Saucer with Thai mythical figures

Art Historical Context

This delicate saucer, adorned with vibrant Thai mythical figures, exemplifies Bencharong ware—a specialized type of Chinese porcelain crafted during the Qing dynasty (164–1911) specifically for the Thai market. in 19th-century China, the 4⅝-inch (11.7 cm) dish features overglaze polychrome enamels a technique where colorful enamels are applied and fired at a lower temperature after the initial glazing. This allowed for the bright, intricate hues of pink, green, blue, and gold that define Bencharong, named after the Thai term "ben charong" meaning "five colors." Bencharong ware was highly priz...