ZHENGDE SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF THE PERIOD (1506-1521)

It is very rare to find Zhengde green dragon dishes in this small size, as most of them exceed 17 cm. in diametre. Compare to a similar example in this size in the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, illustrated by Wirgin, 'Ming Wares from the Lauritzen Collection', B.M.F.E.A., no. 37, 1965, pl. 7, no. 11; and three Zhengde dishes of larger size in the British Museum, illustrated in Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, nos. 8:33, 8:34 (18 cm.), no. 8:35 (17.8 cm.). Two further dishes of the larger type were included by Margaret Medley in Ming Polychrome Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, where the author illustrates the underside of one, A725 with a similar large Zhengde mark.