A fine quality and rare 18th century antique Chinese chrysanthemum-shaped bronze dish, the heavy dish superbly cast with a plain central medallion encircled by forty-eight fluted petals on the cavetto rising to the lobed mouth rim, the fluted convex sides correspondingly lobed, supported on a low circular foot, the base cast with the six-character Ming dynasty Xuande mark in a vertical cartouche, the metal had been polished to its original golden color.

COMMENT : Chinese chrysanthemum-shaped dishes of differing sizes from the Yongzheng and Qianlong reigns are known and found in various materials such as porcelain, lacquer, jade and deer horn etc., however, this is the only chrysanthemum dish in bronze that I have ever came across.

REFERENCE : It is very rare to find a bronze chrysanthemum dish, a lime-green glazed porcelain dish of the Yongzheng period was sold by Sotheby's Hong Kong in October 2005, another coral-glazed dish from the Qianlong reign was sold by Christies Hong Kong in April 2001 (see images).

DATE : Chinese, Qing Dynasty, 18th Century.

MARK : cast six-character Ming dynasty Xuande reign mark to base.

SIZE : approximately 7 3/4" (19.8 cm) diameter.

CONDITION : in perfect condition but polished with some small built-up of calcifications, no cracks, no dents, and no repairs.

SHIPPING : Inclusive.