The dish is of flat form with slightly domed base and narrow foot rim. It is painted in the centre with two ducks swimming, two more ducks flying above. There is also a clump of bulrushes and other aquatic plants, the underside with sprigs of two peonies, a pomegranate and a peach. The base is painted with the Jiajing six-character mark within a double circle.

Major Duberly writes that Margaret Medley thought that this piece was Transitional (mid 17th century) as the mark was upside down. He also noted that “the ducks denote married fidelity, the pomegranate fertility, the peach longevity and the peony riches and honour”.

Literature: Anthony du Boulay, The Duberly Collection of Chinese Art at Winchester College (Winchester, 2019), p. 32

Provenance: Bequeathed as part of the Duberly Collection, 1978; purchased by Major Montagu and Lady Eileen Duberly from John Sparks, 13 January 1959 (£5)

Location: Treasury, Gallery 2