Rare Silver Ground Blue White Floral Form Dish, YONGZHENG MARK AND PERIOD

China, Qing dynasty, Yongzheng period
Dimensions: 4.8″ (12.2cm) Dia

Shallow dish with rounded side, no depression in the cavetto, foliate rim in the form of multi-petalled flower, the cavetto with 10 petals to the outer ring, 10 to the inner and surrounding a central roundel of 8 petals. The two outer rings each painted in flowers and lingzhi sacred fungus in underglaze cobalt blue, the surrounding area unusually enamelled in silver. the exterior similar with two bands of petals of florals and lingzhi, the base with a six character mark of Yongzheng in underglaze blue within a double ring, and of the period.

Silver ground enamel decoration is a rarity in wares from the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen and very few examples are noted, although it seems to have been somewhat more common though still rare in export wares. It is possible that the later colour change of the enamel to a darker tone was seen as unsuitable and the use of it no longer attempted after the early Qianlong period. The dense overlapping petal form of the dish has precursors in Kangxi examples, possibly influenced by Kraal export wares, and the flower petal motif was certainly popularized in export tea wares during the Yongzheng period and into the Qianlong period.

For the decorative style, please see a handled small bowl, Yongzheng mark and period with yellow ground around the cobalt blue painted flowers and lingzhi, in Sotheby’s London, sale 4NOV2020 Lot 1.
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/imperial-porcelain-a-private-collection/a-rare-yellow-ground-blue-and-whitehandled-cup

清雍正 銀地青花靈芝紋小蝶