A COPPER-RED 'FISH' SAUCER-DISH
Yongzheng six-character mark and of the period
Finely potted with low, rounded sides set over a slightly inward-tapering foot, the exterior painted in underglaze copper red with three fish swimming gracefully on the white ground, their tails sweeping gently up and fins extended. 15cm (5 3/4in) diam.
Footnotes:
清雍正 釉裡紅三魚紋盤
青花「大清雍正年製」楷書款

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 15 May 2013, lot 232.

來源： 倫敦蘇富比，2013年5月15日，拍品編號 232

The present lot reflects the Yongzheng Emperor's profound fascination with antiquity. The design featuring three red fish set against a pristine white background traces its origins back to the Xuande period (r.1424-25), during which a select collection of Imperial cups, stem cups, and stem bowls adorned with similar distinctive motifs were crafted. Although this iconic style fell into relative obscurity, it experienced a revival in the early Qing dynasty. As documented in the Taocheng jishi bei (Commemorative Stele on Ceramic Production) compiled in 1735 by the renowned superintendent of the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen, Tang Ying (1682-1756), the three fish motif, along with three fruits, three lingzhi fungus, and five bats, were among the four copper-red designs from the Xuande reign that were intentionally reproduced at the Imperial kilns during the Yongzheng period.

See a pair of copper-red 'fish' dishes, Yongzheng six-character mark and of the period, which was sold at Sotheby's New York, 11 September 2019, lot 658.

Some fritting and restoration to the rim, the largest approx 3cm wide, with associated minor nick, approx 2mm wide; some minor shallow nicks to the foot, the largest approx 2mm wide; minor firing imperfections and general surface wear.