A RARE CAFE-AU-LAIT-GLAZED 'THREE FISH' DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

of well potted saucer-shape resting on a short foot and rising to an everted rim, finely painted on the exterior in rich iron-red enamels with three carp swimming in mutual pursuit, their scaly bodies and fins detailed with fine lines, all reserved on a soft, creamy 'café-au-lait' ground, the interior glazed white and painted with five bats forming the wufu in iron-red, the base left white and inscribed with the six-character mark in underglaze-blue within a double-circle

The dish is overall in good condition. There is a surface scratch across one fish on the exterior. There is a glaze gap running around the interior of the base, and occasional scattered ironspots.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Dishes of this type are quite rare, although Yongzheng dishes with three copper-red fish on the exterior can found on a pair dishes sold in our London rooms, 7th June 1994, lot 373; another pair also sold in our London rooms 12th November 2003, lot 244. 

The three fish design on the exterior has its origins on early 15th century wares of stemcups and bowls in copper-red.  Compare a rounded bowl, both with a Xuande reign mark, included in the exhibition Imperial Porcelain of the Yongle and Xuande Periods Excavated from the Site of the Ming Imperial Factory at Jingdezhen, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1989, cat.no 75.

The fish and the bats on this dish all represent auspicious wishes.  The carp is a homophone for 'advantage or benefit', li, and the goldfish, 'jinyu' sounds like 'abundance of gold.' Five bats form the wish for you to have "the Five Blessings," wufu. The Five Blessings which are old age, wealth, health, love of virtue and a peaceful death were first mentioned in the chapter on Hongfan ('The Great Plan') in the ancient text Shangshu, compiled in the Warring States Period.