XIANFENG SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD (1851-1861)

A similarly decorated white-glazed, thick-walled dish, with relief rather than incised decoration, was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 15 May 1990, lot 98, where it was dated 18th century. The original inspiration for both the 18th century example and the present Xianfeng dish would have been 15th century dishes, such as the large (33.5 cm.) white dish incised with a lotus bouquet in the center below floral scrolls and a scroll border in the well, with Xuande mark below the rim on the exterior, illustrated in Sekai Toji Zenshu, vol. 14, Tokyo, 1976, col. pl. 8. See, also, a Yongle white dish with similar decoration illustrated by John A. Pope, Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, Washington, 1956, pl. 110, no. 29.687, which in turn was probably inspired by early 15th century blue and white dishes, one of which is also illustrated, pl. 31, no. 29.21.