China, 18th Century - Qianlong Period (1736-1795) - Porcelain Plate From The Rose Family

China, 18th century – Qianlong period (1736-1795).
Plate decorated in the center with two crowing roosters in nature, near pierced rocks adorned with peonies and flowers.
Peony decoration on the wing. Chinese porcelain with polychrome decoration of famille rose enamels.
Accident and restoration.

Dimensions: Diameter: c. 23cm.

The central decoration of this plate takes up auspicious motifs, symbols of honor (the peony), of longevity (the pierced rock) and of success (the rooster). Associated, these symbols also form two rebuses which call for the elevation of the social rank of its owner. "功名富貴" or "Gongming Fugui", meaning "success, fame - wealth, high position", is in Chinese literature a reference to scholars who have attained an official rank which can be understood as "may you receive an important rank and the honours”. The crowing roosters symbolize the first part of this sentence (gongji = cock; ming = cry) and the peonies the second, "fugui" being one of the names given to peonies. The combination of roosters and pierced rocks forms another rebus that can be interpreted as "may your house enjoy good fortune", the words for rock and house being pronounced the same (shi).