An especially fine pair of Chinese export porcelain soup plates exquisitely hand-painted in the famille rose palette and epitomizing the refinement for which this period is so well known. Each centered with an image of a pair of pheasants perched upon rockwork amongst a profusion of flowering peony, the cavetto with an abundant, gilded grapevine border, and the rim with minutely rendered puce landscapes in reserve alternating with further flowering branches, a gilded scrolling foliate border edging the plate. Measuring 9″ in diameter and in very good condition.  Circa 1735.