A LARGE 'FAMILLE-ROSE' RUBY-GROUND BIRTHDAY DISH SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF JIAQING

the shallow rounded sides sitting on a splayed foot and rising to an everted rim pierced with a band of circular holes, decorated to the centre with a diaper patterned lantern, encircled by four smaller tasselled lanterns alternating with four lotus blooms on dense meandering stems within a border of linked pendant and beads in the cavetto, the holes on the rim outlined in gilt and strapped together with iron-red twine, between lotus and ruyi-head borders, the underside similarly decorated, with a raised blue enamel keyfret encircling the foot, all reserved on a rich ruby-red ground, the base turquoise with a central square reserved in white for the base for the six-character seal mark in iron-red

A Private Japanese Collection.

There is expected rubbing to the gilding, concentrated to the rim. There are four small areas of loss to the yellow enamel border at the rim, the largest area covering approx 1.1 by 0.2cm. Otherwise the dish is in very good condition overall. The ruby-red glaze is a bit more purplish than the catalogue illustration suggests.
"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."

See a similar example from the Weishaupt Collection illustrated in Gunhild Avitabile, From the Dragon's Treasure, London, 1987, pl.21; other ruby-ground birthday dishes sold in these rooms 19th November 1986, lot 268; 10th April 2006, lot 1741; and in our New York rooms, 3rd July 1992, lot 257.

Also compare a turquoise-ground birthday dish, from the Collection of Edward T. Chow, sold in these rooms, 30th October 2002, lot 258; and another, 9th October 2007, lot 1501. 

Related dishes are also known without the open-work at the rim; see a slightly smaller yellow-ground dish with this painted decoration illustrated in Liu Liang-yu, A Survey of Chinese Ceramics, Taipei, 1991, vol.5, pl.27 top; and another dish of this design with a lime-green ground included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Ch'ing Dynasty Porcelain in the National Palace Museum, vol.II, Tokyo, 1981, pl.102.