Saucer with Chinoiserie Design

In the 18th century, as European ceramicists were reverse-engineering underglaze blue porcelain, one of the most popular early styles of decoration was called Chinoiserie, a French term for “in a Chinese style.” The term referred to images of completely imaginary scenes of China and Chinese people, based on the limited descriptions coming back from Western visitors and missionaries. This small saucer, one of a set, is from the mid-19th century, when the style was well-established and a bit old-fashioned, perhaps best known as the mass-produced Blue Willow china pattern.