Decorative Bowls - Antique Chinese Porcelain Polychrome Chupu Vessel Lidded Bowl - Circa 1909 (1st year Xuantong reign) - Rare Gift Chinoiserie

Nowhere in the world has porcelain assumed such importance as in China, and the influence of Chinese porcelain on later European pieces has been profound. This antique Chinese polychrome bowl, circa 1909 (1st year Xuantong reign), is also known as chupu and conveys the importance of tradition and celebration during meals within Chinese culture. The porcelain bowl and lid are painted in polychrome enamels and include chinese calligraphy. The mouth on the lid and bowl are unglazed, along with the slightly raised foot on the bottom of the bowl. The stamped reign mark on the base is red and fairly worn. There are kiln flaws, such as black spots, bumps, and glaze spots. There is some paint loss, one hairline crack and a few flea bites; 5.25” in height with lid and 4.125” in diameter ✨

Chupu is a Straits Chinese name for a lidded bowl with a convex-shaped lid and funnel-shaped finial. It was used to serve expensive delicacies among the Straits Chinese and had a special place at ‘baba’ weddings. Smaller versions were also seen on dressing tables to store beauty products.

Puyi (Wade-Giles P’u-I), also called Henry Puyi, reign name Xuantong, was the last emperor (1908-1911/12) of the Qing (Manchu) dynasty (1644-1911/12) in China and pro forma emperor of the Japanese-controlled state of Manchukuo from 1934 to 1945. Puyi died October 17, 1967, Beijing. In 1909, Puyi succeeded to the Manchu throne at the age of three and reigned for three years.

In 1911, the Qing dynasty was overthrown and China was declared a republic, requiring the abdication of Puyi with guarantees granted by the Articles of Favorable Treatment (1912). In March 9, 1932-1934, Puyi became the leader of the Japanese-controlled Manchukuo in Manchuria (China’s Northeast) under the reign name Datong, and in 1934-1945, he was ‘emperor’ of the same region under the Kangde reign.

Puyi’s autobiography, From Emperor to Citizen, was published in English in 1964-65, and he was the subject of the movie The Last Emperor (1987)