Object Description
Ming c1600 blue and white charger made during the reign of the Emperor Wanli
The Plate is painted to the centre with an unusual design showing a dragon climbing out of a turbulent sea while mutating from a carp to a dragon. these dragons are often called ‘winged or fish tailed dragons’.
it was believed that lage koi carp would mutate into a Dragon when they were large enough which is why a dragon was thought to have the scales of a carp. The mutating dragon is more common on some robes
The sides are painted with alternating panels of precious objects and lotus flowers.
The underside is painted with tree shrews (squirrels) in melon groups. This is an unusual design.
Excellent plate with good colour and painting