Object Description
This is a Chinese Export porcelain Dish or Deep Plate hand painted in a typical Blue and white pattern, made during the reign of Wanli (1573 to 1620).
The dish is fairly heavily potted on a low foot and a well cut foot rim. The glaze is fairly thick with a lovely blue tinge to it.
It is very well painted in many shades of cobalt blue, ranging from a very light silver-grey to a very dark blue, almost black. The hand painted design has a central large Kylin in a garden setting. The Kylin or qilin is a Chinese unicorn which is a mythical beast that symbolizes good luck and prosperity.
The cavetto and outer rim have floral scroll borders together with other symbols and motifs. The hand painting exhibits that natural flow and exuberance associated with a genuine piece of the period.
The piece has no markings to the base but the base exhibits radial lines upon it, which which are commonly known as “chatter” marks, caused by a slipping of the finishing tool at the time of making by the potter.
Overall a very good well decorated example, which we date to circa 1600 of the Chinese Ming dynasty, Wanli reign (1573 to 1620).