Plate with Molded Rim and Decoration of Kakiemon-Style Tiger and Bamboo

Art Historical Context

This elegant plate, created in China during the Qing dynasty in 1755, showcases the fascinating exchange of artistic influences between East Asian ceramic traditions. Produced in underglaze blue on porcelain, it features a molded rim and a lively scene of a tiger amid bamboo stalks rendered in the Kakiemon style—a decorative approach originally developed in Japan. While Chinese potters excelled at blue-and-white wares for centuries, this piece reflects their adaptation of Japanese-inspired motifs for export markets, particularly in Europe, where such designs were highly prized. The tiger and bamboo imagery carries rich symbolic meaning in Chinese culture, representing strength, courage, and resilience. The plate’s relatively large diameter and shallow form suggest it was intended as both a functional serving dish and a decorative object. Its precise dating adds historical value, anchoring it to the height of Qing porcelain production when workshops skillfully blended local techniques with foreign aesthetics. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Asian Art collection as part of the Gerry bequest, this work highlights the global reach of Chinese ceramics during the 18th century.