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

The present dish is a rare example from the Yongzheng period inspired by a Yongle prototype, such as an example in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, accession number: guci001823N000000000, but in a much smaller size. Interestingly, the same pattern continued into the Qianlong reign but was made in a larger size again, closer to its Yongle original. This change is recorded in an entry from the Qing Imperial archives, dated the 6th of the 5th month of the third year of the Qianlong reign, states that the Emperor was presented with a 'flower bouquet' dish measuring 5 cun (approx. 16 cm) in diameter, and then ordered that future dishes of this type should feature a larger interior roundel.