Large concave dish from the Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Imp period, with a large butterfly in the center and three smaller ones on the sides. Around, many flowers, including magnolia buds, chrysanthemums, peonies, Buddha hands, lotuses, a flowering sprig and wildflowers.
The P. Toscano wrote: 'The dish is a hymn to conjugal happiness represented by the butterflies, crowned by many flowers, each symbol of a particular wish; thus magnolias are a wish for beauty and sweetness, chrysanthemums for joviality, lotuses for abundance, peonies for love, plum or peach branches and bamboo canes are all wishes for long life and immortality'.
In the museum since 1947. From Beijing.
