Famille-rose Pedestal Plate with Bird and Flower Design and Mark of “Studio of the Great Refinement” (Daya Zhai)

Both the interior and exterior of this basin are glazed in a mineral green pigment with famille rose painting of wisteria. On the high pedestal a single gold ring in low relief floats above a painting of water and cliffs. Below the mouth of the basin is a three-character regular script inscription that translates to “Studio of the Great Refinement” (Daya zhai). Adjacent to it is another inscription in seal script that translates into “Spring both in heaven and on earth”. This kind of porcelain was made during the Guangxu era at the Jingdezhen imperial kiln specially for the Empress Dowager Cixi.