Qianlong period talismanic antique porcelain plate

Made for the Islamic market with Arabic inscriptions, this fine piece is a talismanic porcelain plate, made in Qianlong period China. The centre features a magic square, and the sides possess alternating bands of red and white, with decorative patterns in cobalt blue and inscriptions in gilt.

Chinese porcelain was often made for export, and often for the Arabian and Islamic market, particularly during the mid to late Ming dynasty, and on into the Qing period. This particular piece dates from the 18th century, a time of increasingly tense relations between the Chinese and Islamic worlds, but nonetheless one of continuing trade and cultural production. This object forms a fine collector's piece, from a fascinating period of history and one of intersecting global cultures.