Description:
This polychrome Imari porcelain saucer-dish is decorated with panels of dragons in the clouds and phoenixes between prunus branches in underglaze red and blue alternating with floral scrolls in underglaze blue on the cavetto. The central panel consists of a fungus in blue at the bottom and flowers, a butterfly and a scroll in red with leaves in underglaze blue. The base is sunken, glazed and unmarked, but contains spur marks. Marital bliss is usually wished by butterflies, since shuang means both butterfly and ‘pair’ or ‘double’.