Famille rose is a type of Chinese porcelain introduced in the 18th century and defined by pink overglaze enamel. The colour may actually range from pale pink to deep ruby. The gradation of colours was produced by mixing coloured enamels with ‘glassy white’, an opaque white enamel (lead arsenate).
Famille verte, adopted in the Kangxi period around 1680, uses green in a few different shades. The famille verte enamels may be painted on the biscuit (unglazed pre-fired ware), or over high-fired glaze, producing wares of different appearances. Wares with enamel painted on the biscuit usually have a solid-colour ground such as yellow, black or green, while those painted over the glaze may have a white ground.
Famille noire uses a black ground. Genuine famille noire wares were made in the Kangxi era. They may have a copper-green lead-based enamel painted over dry black cobalt ground on the biscuit, and a transparent green glaze was then applied, giving it a near-iridescent appearance.