Lot 406. A pair of large famille verte dishes, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 15½ in. (39.4 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 40,000 - GBP 60,000. Price realised USD 55,250. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012 

Each dish is decorated to the centre of the interior with a depiction of the Goddess of Longevity, Magu. She is finely painted in long flowing iron-red and green robes, standing beside a spotted deer pulling a cart with a vat of longevity wine. A female attendant carrying scrolls follows behind them. The exterior of the dishes are decorated with a wide band of stylised shou characters. There are apocryphal Chenghua underglaze blue six-character marks to the bases.

Note: Magu, the Goddess of Longevity, is often regarded as the female equivalent of Shoulao. She is usually depicted with a deer pulling a cart of lingzhi or a vat of longevity wine which she brews from the fungus. First appearing in early Ming dynasty porcelain from Jingdezhen, her image became popularized during the Kangxi period..

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, London, 15 May 2012