CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, MARQUE À SIX CARACTÈRES DANS UN DOUBLE CERCLE EN BLEU SOUS COUVERTE ET ÉPOQUE YONGZHENG (1723-1735)

The decoration of the dish draws inspiration from the harmonious combination of the sea, represented by hai, the pavilions wu, and the sticks chou carried by cranes conveys an auspicious wish for longevity, encapsulated in the rebus Haiwu Tianchou, meaning "Adding sticks to the pavilion above the sea." This design resonates with symbolic imagery wishing for long life. For comparison, similar Yongzheng-marked dishes with this rare pattern can be found in renowned museums and private collections worldwide. Examples include one illustrated in Porcelains from the Tianjin Municipal Museum, Hong Kong, 1993, pls. 159 and 160; another in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, illustrated by W. B. Honey in Chinese Porcelain, London, 1927, no. 86a; a further example featured in Sekai toji zenshu - 15 Qing, Shogakukan, Tokyo, 1983, p. 174, no. 191; one sold at Sotheby’s New York, 23 September 1997, lot 359; a pair auctioned at Christie’s New York, 23 March 2012, lot 2034; and one from the collection of Dr. James D. Thornton, sold on 29 November 2017, lot 2810.