Chinese Famille Rose Plate with Endless Knot Mark, Guangxu Period, late 19th century

Straits Chinese (Peranakan / Nyonya) porcelain plate in Chinese famille rose style. Painted in the middle with two peaches and a bat and surrounded with four Shuangxi (Double Happiness) characters interspersed with sprays of peonies and Lingzhi fungus. On the back are four bats painted in iron red enamel with an endless knot mark.

The plate and enamel is in good condition.

The endless knot is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols representing the offerings made by the gods to Shakyamuni Buddha immediately after he gained enlightenment. It denotes good fortune. The "double happiness mark" is usually understood to mean "wedded bliss" and peaches symbolise fertility. Chrysanthemum is associated with longevity as is the Lingzhi fungus, which was considered by the Daoist mystics as the food of the Immortals.