Bidspirit auction | East India Company heating plate

East India Company heating plate with pair of birds, China, 18th century - White porcelain decorated with cobalt blue underglaze. Measures 23 cm in diameter x 28 cm in length. Double-walled warming plate with double pouring spouts, decorated with a central scene of a pair of wading birds arranged in a lakeside landscape with vegetation and architecture in the background. The design combines delicate lines and shaded areas that lend movement and depth to the scene. It has a small chip, consistent with its age. Produced during the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century, it was intended for the European market as part of the functional export porcelain collection.