Pair of Chinese Export Painted Plaques of Court Figures, Qing Dynasty C.1870

A well-matched pair of Chinese export painted oval plaques depicting a court couple in full imperial regalia, each set within a shaped carved hardwood frame of characteristic waisted outline with scrolled crest and splayed bracket feet, designed to display freestanding.

The plaques depict a court lady and a male official or emperor, both in elaborate blue dragon robes (longpao) with wave-pattern lower borders, polychrome dragon and cloud decoration, and formal court collars (piling) in teal. The lady wears a formal diancui headdress with kingfisher feather ornament, red and green bead decoration, and pendant drops; the male figure a black-bordered official hat with peacock feather (hualing). The palette throughout is vivid deep cobalt blue, iron red, emerald green, and black outline in the tradition of famille verte court figure painting adapted for the Western export market.

Period: Late Qing dynasty, C.1870
Origin: China
Medium: Polychrome painted plaque in carved hardwood frames
Dimensions: 18 × 13 cm each (framed)
Condition: Good. Plaques intact with minor age-related toning. Frames with minor surface marks consistent with age.

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