A RARE CHINESE REVERSE-DECORATED BLUE-GROUND DISH

SIX CHARACTER WANLI MARK AND OF THE PERIOD 1573-1620

With shallow rounded sides flaring towards the rim, the interior decorated in white slip with two fish in a lotus pond within a circular border, the reverse with four further fish separated by lotus in a frieze, above a narrow band encircling the foot, with a paper label for the South Africa National Gallery Chinese Exhibition 1953, no.147, 15cm.

Provenance: from the collection of G R A Murray and thence by descent.

Exhibited: National Gallery of South Africa, Cape Town, Chinese Exhibition, 1953, no.147.

Cf. Geng Baochang, Gugong bowuyuan canggu taoci ziliao xuan cui, no.194 for another Wanli dish of this design.