Imperial Blooms - Made in Macau (Portuguese inscription: Fabricado em Macau)

Name: Imperial Blooms
 
Type: Hand-painted porcelain dishes with yellow floral design
 
Year: circa 1950s–1970s
 
Set: Yes ( Set of 3 small dishes)
 
Mark: Made in Macau (Portuguese inscription: Fabricado em Macau) - Red overglaze seal marks with Chinese characters, and stamped “Fabricado em Macau”
 
History: These small porcelain dishes, decorated in vivid famille rose enamels over a rich imperial yellow ground, are part of the post-war Macau export porcelain tradition. Macau, under Portuguese administration until 1999, became a center for hand-decorated porcelain primarily intended for Western markets. These dishes exhibit stylized lotus or peony blossoms amid scrolling ruyi clouds—a traditional Chinese motif symbolizing longevity and good fortune. One of the bowls features the Chinese character 壽 (shòu), meaning “longevity.”
 
 
The backs of the pieces are marked with a combination of Portuguese and Chinese inscriptions: "Fabricado em Macau" (Made in Macau) and a red seal script. These markings are typical of Macau-decorated wares from the 1950s–1970s, a time when blank whiteware was often imported from China and hand-painted locally.
 
 
The bright yellow enamel base color, once reserved for the Imperial court during the Qing dynasty, was revived during this mid-20th-century period for decorative and symbolic use. The visual style mimics Qing dynasty patterns but is distinct in its more casual execution, characteristic of export-oriented goods.
 
Flaws: Bigger plate has been repaired