Description
A good pair of Chinese famille rose plates, brightly decorated with the Eight Horses of Mu Wang, each plate with four horses frolicking beneath a flowering tree, the borders with bold peony blooms and colourful butterflies, Qianlong 1736-95, 22.7cm. (2)
In Chinese mythology the Eight Horses drew the chariot of the Emperor Mu Wang (Zhou dynasty, C.1028-221BC) on his journey to the Western Gardens in search of the Peach of Immortality. The design is also known in blue and white as well as copied on Worcester porcelain and on Delftware.
