Sold Ceramics - Sold Chinese Imari 1700-1800 - Flowers, Animals and Long Elizas - Page 2
Object 2010562
Dish
China
1730-1750
Height 20 mm (0.79 inch), diameter of rim 225 mm (8.86 inch), diameter of footring 130 mm (5.12 inch)
Dish on footring, flat rim. Chinese Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, overglaze iron-red and gold with a flowering peony and two crabs. On the rim flowering peony and chrysanthemum sprays. The reverse is undecorated.
While the crab (xie), a pun for harmony, is symbolic of achieving success in passing the civil service examination, two crabs with a reed make up a rebus conveying the wish, May you pass high on the civil service examination. The peony, known in China as the "king of flowers", is among the most popular Chinese botanical motifs and is widely used to symbolize holding high rank, official position or social status. Its presence reinforces the notion conveyed by the crabs once one passes the exam, one becomes a high official and is assured a good income. (Sargent 2012, p.184)
For a similarly decorated dish, please see;
Condition: A short hairline and two very tiny glaze fleabites to the rim.
References:
Price: Sold.
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