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Hi, Picked this dish up recently from a very small Antique shop, they knew very little about it but I liked the dish so purchased it for very little money, it is very heavy approx six pounds, nearly 11" Dia x 2.3/4" high, rim edge is coated in browny red colour, some firing marks and what looks like small rust spots, not many but they are there, some on the mythical beast, Quilin I think,reserch I have done online suggest the six characters on the base read Kanxi period but could be Later. any thoughts on this Dish would be helpful to us.
Regards, Graham.

This B&W dish with what looks like a qilin motif and mark of Kangxi doesn't quite capture the period look of a qilin, in my opinion. Probably a 20th century product, possibly post-1950. I've included a link to a period piece in the Guest & Gray archive.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Hi Bill, Many thanks for your reply, and the pic of pot, further browsing has revealed my beast to be a Qilin because it has hooved feet, the example you show looks like it has paws and claws and from what I can gather this would make it some sort of lion dog ? if one does a google search it comes up with various Saucer dishes like mine showing the beast with hooved feet, but all these show the Qilin facing left with head turned to the right, mine is the only one I have come across with the Qilin facing right, is this just coincidence or is there something more to it?

The Qilin is called the Chinese "unicorn", and since this one seems to have a single horn in the middle of his head, I'm placing my trust in the respected British firm of Guest & Gray when they tell us what we see in their picture is a "Chinese blue and white yen yen vase, decorated with kylins amidst clouds ..., Kangxi (1662-1722), height: 23 cm."

Fact is, you'll find these leonine feet on other mythical creatures from time to time, including dragons, and some depictions of qilin with such feet say this distinguishes it as the male of the species or "qi" (麒). Here's another image from Guest & Gray's archive showing a Kangxi-period conception of a Buddhistic lion, as well as an in-the-round jade carving of a circa late Ming "qi", which I think I'll keep on calling "qilin" so more folks know what I'm talking about.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Here's a chilong or immature dragon on the top of a small Tongzhi-era porcelain tazza. The creature is shown with quite dexterous digits, almost human-like in their gripping capability.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Hi Bill, Many thanks for your help, it has been very helpful and informative with reference to the beast in my dish! I have since been informed that the three emblems on the outside of this dish depict Rhino Horns, Flaming pearl, and a scroll.

Kind Regards, Graham.

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