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Need help to identify mark and period of this plate.Thank you

The mark is a conch shell, the instrument blown to summon Buddhist devotees to worship, which role has propelled it into the realm of the eight "happy omens" of that religion. This mark and the motif on your dish were both associated with the Qing dynasty Kangxi period (1662-1722). However, the painting style on this piece seems a bit stiff compared to what is seen on period wares. Though not always present, period dishes quite often have a straw color on the exposed biscuit of their foot rim and a brown wash of iron pigment to the outer rim. Considering this, my inclination would be to date this dish as probably a later product, perhaps as recent as the fourth quarter of the 20th century or subsequently.

I've appended some images of an unmarked period dish with a more typical look to its glazing, decorative and firing characteristics.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Hi Beli,

To start with the mark: This is the conch shell, one of the eight Buddish symbols. The decoration is (as far as I know) a scene from the “Romance of the Western Chamber”.
Both -the symbol and those kind of decorations- were used/made during the Kangxi period but … I have a problem with this one. The sprigs on the back of the rim ar to stylistic for the Kangxi period and fits more in the period around 1740. This (forgetting the colors and the clean bottom for the moment) worries me because I never saw examples with this decoration of that time. (there are some simular examples made in the 19th. Ct.)
I can’t say it’s 19th ct. or even new but I don’t think it is what it pretends to be..

Regards,

Arjan

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