A Canton Enamel Dish Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period

with shallow rounded sides supported on a short slightly tapered foot, finely enamelled in soft multicoloured tones, the centre with two butterflies fluttering above budding and blossoming peony, chrysanthemum, magnolia, crab apple, aster and poppy stems, all on a yellow ground, surrounded by a pink diaper pattern in the cavetto, the side with a butterfly and various floral sprays on a light blue ground, the exterior painted in the 'mille fleurs' technique on a black ground, the base painted with a central 'dragon' medallion surrounded by four further dragons