Willow Lady

Name: Willow Lady
 
Type: Porcelain Saucer
 
Year: likely 1920s–1940s
 
Set: No
 
Mark: None - None
 
History: This delicate hand-painted saucer features a serene female figure in traditional Chinese dress, seated in a natural setting beside a stylized willow or plantain tree and a red bamboo fence. The palette includes soft iron-reds, celadon greens, and cobalt blues, highlighted with black outlining—a common stylistic approach found in early 20th-century Chinese export porcelain. The shallow bowl form with a slightly upturned lip and gilded rim suggests it was produced as part of a decorative tea or dessert set rather than for utilitarian service.
 
 
The absence of a reign mark and the smooth, slightly translucent white glaze are typical of Republic period porcelain (circa 1912–1949). These types of wares were often exported to the West and enjoyed popularity for their artistic renderings of idyllic domestic life and nature scenes.
 
 
Unlike the preceding Qing dynasty styles that emphasized formal, courtly elegance, Republic period porcelain often celebrated leisure, individuality, and gentle expression—evident in this subject's relaxed pose and the informal brushwork.
 
Flaws: None