KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)

The carp has long served as a symbol of abundance and prosperity in Chinese culture. According to Terese Bartholomew in Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, San Francisco, 2006, p. 58, the carp, liyu, is a pun for “enormous profits.” The benevolent act of setting a carp free is believed to bring great merit. Kangxi-period dishes with a similar decorative scheme are also found bearing Kangxi marks, such as a pair of examples sold at Christie's New York, 15 September 2009, lot 360.