Candle stick holders

🧧 Summary – Rose Medallion Style Porcelain Candle Holders

Item: Set of hand-painted Chinese export-style porcelain candlesticks and small footed dish
Origin: China (likely made for export)
Style: Famille Rose (specifically, Rose Medallion)
Date Estimate: 1950s–1960s
Medium: Porcelain with enamel overglaze and gold accents
Condition: Excellent
For Sale?: No (heirloom)

🖌️ Description & Features

• Design Motif: The candle holders and dish feature intricate hand-painted scenes of figures in garden or court settings, surrounded by florals, butterflies, peonies, and auspicious Chinese symbols (including longevity symbols and medallions).
• Color Palette: Vivid greens, pinks, and oranges typical of Famille Rose enamelware, with raised gold gilt detail.
• Construction: Likely slip-cast porcelain, then decorated by hand.
• Base Marking: At least one piece (the square dish/ashtray) has Chinese writing on the base, though it’s not clearly visible in your photos—it may be a transfer mark, hand-painted stamp, or red seal style. If readable, it could indicate the kiln or maker.

🔍 Authentication

Based on the style, materials, and quality of the decoration, this set appears to be authentic mid-20th century Chinese export porcelain, made in the popular "Rose Medallion" pattern. This design became widely collectible in the West and was produced in both hand-painted and transferware variations.

Your set is not antique, but vintage, with roots in traditional 19th-century Canton ware. The gold detailing, hand-enameled figures, and overall craftsmanship indicate it was a higher-end example made for decorative purposes or export during the postwar economic boom (ca. 1950s–60s).

📈 Estimated Market Value (2025)

Prices vary based on condition, completeness of sets, and whether the items are hand-painted:

• Candlestick holders (each): $40 – $75 USD (retail); $25 – $50 USD (private/estate sale)
• Footed square dish (ashtray or trinket box): $30 – $60 USD
• Complete group (if sold as a decorative ensemble): $150 – $250 USD retail

📝 Note: Hand-painted versions with raised enamel and gold detailing (like yours) hold higher value than transfer-decorated variants. Condition (no chips, cracks, or wear to paint/gilt) significantly boosts desirability.

📜 Historical & Cultural Note

This style is often called Rose Medallion, a subset of the Famille Rose palette. It was produced in large numbers during the Qing Dynasty (especially 19th century) and remained popular through the 20th century, especially among collectors in the West.

The motifs (floral panels, butterflies, Chinese figures) represent wealth, harmony, and good fortune. While these are not from the 1800s Canton period, they reflect that artistic tradition and are now appreciated as mid-century interpretations of Qing Dynasty export porcelain.

🧾 Professional Appraisal Recommendation

For insurance, estate, or museum-level documentation, or if the mark on the base suggests a more famous kiln (e.g., Qianlong mark, Tongzhi, or Republic period pieces), consider a professional appraisal. You can consult:

• Appraisers Association of America
• ISA – International Society of Appraisers

A professional appraiser could verify the base marks and further differentiate factory-made vs. artisan or limited editions.

✅ Summary Judgment

This is a fine, well-preserved vintage Chinese porcelain set from the mid-20th century, painted in the classical Rose Medallion style. Though not antique, its excellent condition and aesthetic value make it collectible. The sentimental and historical family provenance also adds intangible worth.