Famille rose
Meaning "the pink family". Famille-rose enamels were first introduced around the end of the 1720's for use on porcelain. The best quality famille-rose export wares date from the Yongzheng period (1723-1735). The majority of the enamels is opaque or semi-opaque and does not flow when fired. The palette takes its name from a rose-colored enamel which makes up a characteristic color in the palette. Other significant colors in this palette are opaque yellow and opaque white.
'Yangcai' meaning 'foreign colors' is one of many Chinese terms for 'famille rose' and was in use during the Qianlong reign to refer to that palette. In the Yongzheng reign it was known as 'ruancai' (soft colors). Fencai (powder colors) is a 19th C term which has been further defined to being 'famille rose decor against a white ground' whereas 'falangcai' has become the name for 'famille rose on a colored ground'. Most likely 'falang' is a Chinese pronounciation of 'foreign' while 'cai' just means 'enamels'.
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