Object Description
Kangxi Early Chinese 18th Century Blue and White porcelain low dish / saucer plate. Although made for export to Europe it is painted with a traditional Chinese design with a six figure apocryphal Cheng H’ua mark to the back.
The centre is painted with the Five Ancestors shown as sages looking and discussing a scrolling showing the design of the Yin and Yang. The sages represent the five elements , Fire, Metal, Water, Earth and wood. the yin and yang keep the natural world and the heavens in constant check and in balance.
Often known as ‘the Conversation’ as it is what these learned figures are doing.
The sides are painted to show the eight Tri Grams and the auspicious Buddhist Emblems.
The back with the six character mark is surrounded by a double circle and the underside of the rim is painted with a foaming sea.