YONGZHENG SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF THE PERIOD (1723-1735)

The unusually small size and the plain interior of the present dish suggests this could have been used at the table for sauce or condiments. Dishes of this size first appeared among the doucai and blue and white decorated Imperial wares during the Chenghua period (1465-1487). Described by Gu Tai in the late Ming publication Bowu Yaolan (Important Criteria for Studying Ancient Objects) as chopstick rests, those Chenghua examples would have additional decoration to the interior.