It is very unusual for dishes of this type to be decorated with composite flower scrolls including peony, creating a more compact design. The more common type being those exclusively decorated with peony sprigs such as lot 54 in this sale.

The style of decoration may be traced back to dishes of the Yuan and early Ming period. For a Yuan blue and white reserve-decorated dish, cf. The Ceramic Art of China, pl.36, fig.142. A Xuande-marked example is illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Ceramics from the Ataka Collection, col.pl.85; another is illustrated in the Handbook of the Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection