Kangxi (1662-1722), ca 1690
The dish has rounded sides rising to a slightly everted rim.
The interior is painted with a large flowering branch of prunus and sprigs of bamboo growing near a rock. The flowers are outlined and well detailed in underglaze-red. A bird is perched on the branch while another in flight about to land, all below a moon and encircled by a double-line border repeated below the rim. The reverse is painted with two sprays of bamboo. The base has a ding mark.
Diameter 15.8 cm
Although the use of underglaze copper oxide was not uncommon during the late 14th and early 15th century it was short-lived due to the difficulties in controlling the colour of the copper oxide pigment.
A good red colour was difficult to achieve and the final result remained unsure and often showed a 'livery' tone which did not meet the high standards. This technique was almost completely abandoned after the Xuande period (1525-1435) until its revival in the early Kangxi period (1662-1722), although occasionally seen on Wanli and Transitional pieces where it was mainly used for small details.
The present dish with its combination of underglaze-blue and a brilliant red colour is a fine example with its delicate painting and its highly successful use of copper-red