A Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated dish 1st half 18th century

A Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated dish 1st half 18th century, originally decorated in underglaze blue with a central spray of chrysanthemum within a hatched border, the rim with four further sprays of Chinese flowers, later-enamelled with red and gilt highlights to the original decoration in the Imari-style, the rim with four polychrome vignettes of the Cherry-Picker and Music Party designs, 28cm.

Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, no. 580.

The figures on the rim of the dish are believed to represent Prince William and Princess Anne in the early stages of their marriage, and were a more subtle form of pro-Orange propaganda than the obvious titled portraits seen elsewhere.