QIANLONG SIX-CHARACTER SEAL MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

The design on this dish is a close copy of the pattern found on larger Yongle period dishes, known as 'lotus bouquet'. An early 15th century example is illustrated by R. Krahl in Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Museum Istanbul, vol. II, Yuan and Ming Porcelains, London, 1986, p.514, no. 604. See, also, five similar early 15th century dishes illustrated by J. A. Pope in Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, Washington, 1956, pl. 30 and 31, where the author mentions that there are seventeen of these dishes in the Ardebil Shrine collection.