A large Chinese circular box and cover

A large Chinese circular box and cover, enamelled en grisaille with the Empress Dowager pattern of flowers, foliage and birds on a turquoise ground, an iron red seal mark and three characters to the cover, Da ya zhai, the base marked Yong Qing Chang Chun, (Eternal Joy and Everlasting Spring), late 19th century, 31.5cm. (2) Cf. G. Avitabile, From The Dragon's Treasure, p.111, for a similar yellow ground example and also R.W Longsdorf, Dayazhai ware: Porcelains from the Empress Dowager, Orientations March 1992 for a detailed examination of this class of wares.