Patera. Brąz. Chiny. Qing.

Everything indicates that the vessel on offer comes from China. It features symbolism typical of that country. The base is decorated with bats, which in China symbolize prosperity and happiness. The word for bat is pronounced the same as the word for happiness in China. The body of the vessel features six figures in traditional Chinese robes, probably priests or sages. Two of them seem to be distinguished. One is leaning on a dragon, a symbol of imperial power, and the other is standing on a turtle, a symbol of wisdom and longevity. The ornamentation of the openwork sides of the platter also points to traditional Chinese art.

I find the shape of the vessel somewhat troubling. It is atypical for Chinese art, more reminiscent of European aesthetics. And I must admit that I have not found anything identical in shape while browsing through hundreds of Chinese vases, vessels, and platters. The openwork wall is also not typical for China. However, China is a huge country with several millennia of tradition in the production of artistic crafts. Perhaps there was a center (such as Canton) where production took into account the tastes of European consumers. I also have to determine the purpose of the vessel based on the European model. In our country, such a vessel is used to serve fruit at the table. The quality of the casting is flawless, or at least comparable to the quality of bronzes cast in China.

I believe that the object was made in the second half of the 19th century, i.e. during the Chinese Qing dynasty. It has a nice patina and is in very good condition. It is 24 cm high. The upper part of the platter is 36 cm long and 24 cm wide, while the lower part is 28 cm and 26 cm, respectively.