A LARGE CHINESE FAMILLE VERTE 'HUNDRED BIRDS' DISH

KANGXI 1662-1722

Finely painted in enamels and gilt with a male and female phoenix perched by blossoming peony and a wutong tree, the mythical birds surrounded by peafowl, Mandarin ducks, cranes, quails, geese, kingfishers and many other birds, with the sun setting behind clouds in the distance, the rim decorated with an iron-red band of chrysanthemum amidst stylised scrolling foliage, with a lingzhi mark in underglaze blue to the base, 34.2cm.

Cf. Shanghai Museum, Kangxi Porcelain Wares from the Shanghai Museum Collection, pp.174-5, no.115 for a related dish with the same subject matter.