Plate

CHINA; Yuan dynasty

This delicate porcelain plate is 4.3 cm high with a diameter of 16.1 cm. It has a firm base which measures 5.5 cm in diameter. In the center of the plate, there is a blue and brown double eight foil motif with four stylized lotus designs. The Sanskrit syllable “om” is outlined in gold luster in the middle, and the rim is decorated with gold and brown floral and leaf patterns. The underside of the plate is divided into eight lotus petals, each of which contains an image of the eight auspicious symbols: a Dharma wheel, fish, conch, lotus, rhinoceros horn, silver ingot, pair of horns, and canopy.
The rare plate has a finish resembling white jade. It underwent two firings before it was finished with overglazes and gold luster.