ZHENGDE SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN DOUBLE CIRCLES AND OF THE PERIOD (1506-1521)

Monochrome yellow glazes were typically used to decorate dishes and bowls in the late 15th-16th centuries, such as the present pair of dishes. Although they are believed to have been manufactured for the sole use of the imperial court, it appears that some also found their way abroad, probably as diplomatic gifts. John Alexander Pope mentions that there are sixteen monochrome yellow-glazed wares amongst the Chinese porcelains dedicated to the Ardebil Shrine by Shah Abbas in 1611. These sixteen pieces date to the Hongzhi, Zhengde, Jiajing and Wanli periods. See J. A. Pope, Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, Washington, 1956, p. 151.

For two similar dishes, see J. Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 205, nos. 8:27 and 8:28. A similar yellow-glazed dish with Zhengde six-character mark was sold at Christie’s New York, 14 September 2017, lot 735.