Lot 2949. A fine pair of copper-red decorated 'three-fish' dishes, Yongzheng six-character marks within double-circles and of the period (1723-1735). Estimate 150,000 - HKD 200,000 (USD 20,000 - USD 26,000). Price realised HKD 620,000 (USD 79,965). Photo: Christie's Images Ltd. 2011.

Each dish is potted with gently rounded sides, decorated in underglaze copper-red on the exterior with three evenly spaced fish, the interiors plain - 5 7/8 in. (15 cm.) diam., box (2)

Note: A pair of Yongzheng dishes with this pattern was included in the Hong Kong O. C. S. Exhibition of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain and Related Underglaze Red, Hong Kong, 1975, illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 129; and another was sold at Christie's New York, 24 March 2004, lot 228.

This design of the three fish in underglaze-red originated from the Xuande period and is found mainly on stemcups, and occasionally on bowls. Cf. the Xuande-marked stemcup illustrated in the Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of Selected Hsuan-te Imperial Porcelains of the Ming Dynasty, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1998, no. 81.