Straits Chinese or Nonyaware Porcelain, made in China for the Straits Chinese Market, circa 1890

Seven Pieces of White-Ground Straits Chinese or Nonyaware Porcelain

This set of Straits Chinese porcelain or nonywaware would have been commissioned in China for use among the peranakan Chinese most probably of the Straits Settlements of Malacca, Penang and Singapore. Such porcelain typically was commissioned for use in large and lengthy wedding celebrations.

The pieces are decorated with the motifs the Straits Chinese preferred for their weddings – peonies and phoenixes – against a white ground.

The group comprises a larger plate, two tea or food bowls, two saucers and two porcelain spoons.

In terms of condition, one of the tea bowls appears to have a very faint hairline, and the larger plate has some minor fritting to the edge and a small hairline, but otherwise the set is in fine condition. The bases are stamped with differing shop marks – this is often the case as large sets were commssioned from various sources and overtime, the sets intermingled.

Ho, W.M., Straits Chinese Porcelain: A Collector’s Guide, Times Books International, 1983.

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