A Chinese Famille Noir Porcelain Basin

Qing dynasty (1644-1912), porcelain basin hand painted in famille noir palette with pink lotus blossoms and scrolling tendrils, peaches, bats, and longevity symbols against a black background, shaped reserves with scholar motifs and objects to front and back sides of the bowl, flanked with double lion mask heads holding metal handles.

11 in. diameter

From the Historic Collection of Limestone University, Gaffney, South Carolina
Limestone College, now Limestone University, was founded in 1845 in Gaffney, South Carolina, by English-born Baptist minister Dr. Thomas Curtis and his son William. Originally established as the Limestone Springs Female High School, it was among the first women’s colleges in the nation and the very first in the state. The institution found its early roots in a former resort hotel near healing springs, later struggling due to the Civil War and Reconstruction. It revived in 1881 as the Cooper‑Limestone Institute, thanks to benefaction from industrialist Peter Cooper, and adopted the name Limestone College.

Presented to Limestone College on December 11, 1945 by Pearl Johnson, an alumna who spent 21 years as a missionary in China.

Good estate condition; small firing hairline to underside.