dish (food service)

Lidded pewter food serving dish of quatrefoil form, supported on four vegetation-shaped feet, attached with two ruyi-shaped ring handles on sides. A plate with a ledged rim is placed inside the dish, divided into five round compartments and engraved with four Chinese characters in clerical script 'fu shou jian bei', which means to have both happiness and longevity. The lid has a moulded knob in the shape of a spray with two peaches, which have a ruby inset and the letter 'B' engraved, possibly done by the previous owner. Also engraved are four large Chinese characters 'fugui', wealth and honour, and 'shoukao', long life. These are amidst other Chinese inscriptions engraved in seal script, clerical script and regular script. The sides of the dish are engraved with scenes including birds perched on plum blossom branches. There is also a grasshopper and millet, a landscape scene with mountains, a river and houses, and a river scene with a bamboo grove by the bank and a fisherman on a boat. The scenes are alternated with Chinese inscriptions engraved in seal script. There are two identical maker's marks impressed on the underside of both the lid and the dish, which read: 'Chaoyang zhu Shantou, yanshengli dian, zheng wen tong'. This means 'Yanshengli shop based in Shantou city in Chaoyang district; quality pewter'.

Collection Information

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