Ever wonder why there are so many raised bosses on a Chinese ceramic garden seat? It is all due to its prototype - a leather drum in a similar form with rivets holding the leather together.
This garden seat has plenty of raised bosses - it is made in the style of Qing Dynasty painted porcelain garden seats in famille rose colors, popularized during 18 Century.. The dominant color is Imperial Yellow with rose , blue and green highlighting the design elements. The highlight are the two large cartouches in pale blue ground, illustrating a rose color dragon and a green phoenix in a confronting dance. The dragon and phoenix are emblems of the Emperor and Empress.
Pretty painted porcelain garden seats from Jingdezhen with bird and flower designs or simple ones glazed in rich flambe glazes from Shiwan, they were integral part of interior furnishings in Chinese homes in late Qing Dynasty. Speaking of mansions resplendent with luxurious interiors, the garden seats were part of the decor as well as seating. They were portable, could be used inside or out. Placed in the shade, their cool surfaces provide a respite from the summer heat.
While there are similar ceramic garden seats produced from the 18 Century onwards, accurate dating is essential in determining accurate prices. This garden seat is produced in mid 20 Century, around the time when the Communist Party took over the governing of China and established the People's Republic of China. As a young nation, the government needed foreign currency and what better way to get it than selling goods to anxious buyers abroad. The government encouraged the revival of Chinese arts and crafts, especially Chinese ceramics. The kilns at Jingdezhen went into productions and many quality pieces were produced - of which this garden seat is a fine representation.
The diameter of the stool is 14 inches in the widest part, the diameter of the seat is 12 inches.
Note: I recently found a photo of my grandmother seated in her father's garden in Hong Kong. Around her were plants in beautiful ceramic pots and ceramic garden seats. Ceramic garden seats are still symbols of weath and can be found in well appointed homes today.