Lot Essay

The delicate decoration of this dish, in both palette and technical execution, represents a hallmark innovation of the Yongzheng reign. A Chinese bulbul, bai tou weng (literally “white-headed old man”), is depicted perched among the flowering branches of pink peonies. The meticulous detail of the painting reflects both its imperial commission and the close supervision of production at the Jingdezhen kilns. Each cluster of naturalistic leaves incorporates multiple shades of green, while the blossoms display exceptionally refined gradations of tone. New enamel colors appear here, including a blue enamel, replacing the earlier underglaze blue, and a white enamel applied to the bird’s wings and head. The bird itself serves as a rebus for bai tou fu gui, expressing the wish, “may you enjoy wealth and honor into old age.”