During theKangxireign, there were only a few works offamille-rose porcelain, whose color paintings were also very simple -- mainly patterns of flowers, clouds anddragons. During the Yongzheng reign, the porcelain enjoyed great improvements. Both the porcelain and decorations produced in this period featured a most delicate quality and brilliant color; these pieces are among the most highly prized works of this type of porcelain.

Thefamille-rose porcelain produced in the Qianlong reign saw an obvious change -- other colors such as green, yellow, blue, carmine or purple, were added to the white porcelain. At that time, the porcelain was no longer as delicate, crystal-like and colorful as that produced in the Yongzheng reign. When it came to the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns,famille-rose porcelain mainly inherited a form of traditional development and did not witness much improvement. The ceramic glaze used was not very refined and featured strong hues.

During the Xianfeng and Tongzhi reigns, the composition offamille-rose pictures became quite complicated, although the painting skills were simple and the materials used were rough. Thefamille-rose porcelain produced during these periods featuredcomparatively faint hues, and, in order to make the colors more brilliant, gold was applied to thefamille-rose base.

The characteristics listed above are the major criteria used to distinguishfamille-rose porcelain produced in different periods during the Qing Dynasty.

Famille-rose porcelain wares in the Qing Dynasty mainly included pots, bottles, wine vessels, jars, basins, plates, urns, boxes, and so on. The patterns mostly included dragons and phoenixes, flowers, landscapes, human figures and themes from legends. Subjects on the porcelains often came from paintings of famous painters at that time.