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Lot Essay
According to R. Krahl in her discussion of blue and white wares with Arabic inscriptions in Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray, vol. I, p. 103, the present dish may be the only known piece with a Hongzhi reign mark. Two related pieces in the Topkapi Saray: a smaller dish of similar design with the same inscriptions but without the clouds in the main field of decoration, has an apochryphal Xuande mark, vol. II, pp. 579-580, no. 777, while a related bowl, no. 778 has a Zhengde mark.
In discussing the dish, no. 777, Krahl notes that all of the inscriptions on the dish are of a religious nature, although "written in a hand unfamiliar with the Arabic script and therefore not fully legible". The center medallion is undecipherable, while the four surrounding medallions may be translated, "There is no hero like Ali, there is no sword like Dhu'l Faqar", and the passage at the rim contains a Shi'ite prayer, which suggests that the piece "was made for the Iranian rather than the Turkish or Egyptian market".
In discussing the dish, no. 777, Krahl notes that all of the inscriptions on the dish are of a religious nature, although "written in a hand unfamiliar with the Arabic script and therefore not fully legible". The center medallion is undecipherable, while the four surrounding medallions may be translated, "There is no hero like Ali, there is no sword like Dhu'l Faqar", and the passage at the rim contains a Shi'ite prayer, which suggests that the piece "was made for the Iranian rather than the Turkish or Egyptian market".