#8572 • Porcelain Plate Commissioned From Japan by Queen

Part of Empress Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau & More (timed auction by GWS Auctions)

Starting at $1.00

Status: Sold

Est. $1,000-$1,000,000 Blue & White Porcelain Plate Commissioned From Japan by Queen Mother Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau W/Four Noble Flowers (Has Calligraphy Marking) - This magnificent piece is a blue and white porcelain plate, which was commissioned from Japan by Queen Mother Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau (Empress Dowager Doan Huy). This piece comes from the estate of a Vietnamese Royal Family (the family now lives in the United States, and wishes to remain private), and once belonged to the Queen Mother Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau (Empress Dowager Doan Huy) who kept the piece in her personal collection before it was passed down. The plate is elaborately decorated in blue underglaze, with an ornate scene of the Four Noble Ones (plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum). The Four Noble Ones represent the four different seasons (the plum blossom for winter, the orchid for spring, the bamboo for summer, and the chrysanthemum for autumn), and are often depicted in Oriental art for their refined beauty. The perimeter of the piece is decorated with a border of stylized waves, and the plate is then finished with an unglazed, scalloped rim. The piece bears a calligraphy marking in blue underglaze on the bottom of the base. High quality porcelain of this type was often ordered by the Vietnamese court, and although the pieces were produced elsewhere, the Vietnamese rulers dictated the designs. Each ruler ordered ceramics of his own liking for use in his court, as well as presentation pieces to give to members of royal families and officials. This piece truly belongs in a museum, as Empress Dowager Doan Huy was the last queen of the Nguyen dynasty, and the mother of Emperor Bao Dai. The Empress Dowager was known for devoting herself to preserving the former capital of Hue after the fall of Nguyen Dynasty, and for sponsoring the restoration of Thai Temple and other war torn mausoleums of Nguyen royals. This is a true modern day treasure, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece of Vietnamese history. This piece has excellent investment potential, as it is thought by experts around the world and avid collectors that due to the rapid modernization of Vietnam, Vietnamese antiques will within the next ten years be more valuable than Chinese antiques. According to some of the most expert collectors in the world, what used to sell for hundreds are now selling for tens of thousands. Measurements: 10" diameter x 3.25"H.