A large famille verte barbed dish, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $6,000 – $8,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The shallow dish is decorated on the interior with a battle scene, and with crane medallions reserved on an iron-red diaper ground on the wide, everted rim with barbed edge. An artemisia leaf mark within a double circle is in underglaze blue on the base. 14 5/8 in. (37 cm.) diam.

Notes: The present dish belongs to a group of Kangxi famille verte dishes depicting various narrative scenes from popular novels or dramas, with brocade decorations on the rims. Two such examples are illustrated by Regina Krahl and Clarissa von Spee in Chinese Ceramics from the Gulexuan Collection, Germany, 2003, nos. 101 and 102. Another was included in the exhibition, Weaving China's Past: The Amy S. Clague Collection of Chinese Textiles, Phoenix Art Museum, 2000, no. 15. A further example is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, from the Salting Bequest (accession no. C.1202-1910).

A related pair of famille verte chargers, each also decorated with battle scenes from historical plays or novels, was sold at Christie's New York, 15-16 March 2015, lot 2152.

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 17 - 18 September 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza