Figurine Sitting Three Emperors

Handpainted figures.  This range of pieces represents an interesting stage in the history of porcelain. Once porcelain started to be manufactured in Europe in the late 17th and early 18th century, by famous potteries such as Meissen in Saxony, Chelsea, Derby, Bow, Worcester, Coalport and Spode, the European taste for romantic, brightly painted sculptures took hold, and factories in China started to meet this demand.  Today, these little figures continueto be manufactured in China, with an Asian subject matter, but a strong debt to the old European tastes and styles. Memorabilia of the Cultural Revolution, created today, show similar influences.

The subject matter of the three emperors is the three emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). The blue emperor is Kang Xi, and symbolizes success. The red emperor is Qian Long, and represents happiness. The yellow emperor,Yong Zheng, stands for wealth.