The attached photo is of a plate that I cannot determine both the origin or the pattern.
Your help would be appreciated.
This decoration first occurred on the end papers of a fine edition of Buddhist sutras and chants compiled by Imperial order of the Yongle emperor in 1419 and 1420 - i.e. very early during the Ming dynasty.
These books are still extant.
The decoration was also first used on Yongle Imperial porcelain of this time and is seen as a sign of his conversion to Buddhism.
The decoration got popular and was widely copied during the centuries to follow, and are in fact still used in a modernized version.
Your dishes are most probably made in the mid 19th century, during the Tongzhi 1862 - 1874 period.
Regarding its place of production it is also - most probably - Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province.
Thank you for your interest.
Best regards,
Jan-Erik Nilsson
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