MEISSEN IMARI DISH
CIRCA 1735
painted in underglaze blue and enhanced with polychrome enamels, decorated with a branch issuing peony flowers and foliage, bamboo leaves and prunus, with a butterfly and further winged insect, within concentric underglaze blue circles, the rim with an iron-red cell border incorporating four flower cartouches, crossed swords and the letter K to the reverse, the foot rim incised 3
34cm diameter
Note: The pattern is taken from Chinese Imari pieces acquired for the collection of Augustus the Strong in Dresden in or shortly after 1727. The first Meissen examples were delivered to the Japanese Palace, Dresden, probably after July 1728. At first, Meissen copied the Chinese originals precisely, but several variations of the pattern emerged in the 1730s and 1740s and it is also applied to other items such as tureens, cruets and candlesticks.