A Chinese porcelain dish, Kangxi period, painted in underglaze blue to the central reserve with a dancing boy, inside a reserve decorated with auspicious objects, unmarked, 22cm diameterNotes: The dancing boy at the focal point of this design is a motif that stems back to ancient times, and is connected with New Year’s Eve celebrations and rituals. Throughout Chinese history there has been an ardent desire for sons, who were needed to perform ancestral sacrifices and ensure the continuation of the family line. By the Ming dynasty, however, the birth of sons was not enough; families hoped for sons who would excel in their studies and take top honours in the civil examinations, bringing wealth and honour to the family. The boy here is surrounded by auspicious objects that hold different symbolic meaning, including aspirations for wealth (coins), knowledge (books), purity and honesty (lotus flowers), and longevity (ribbons).

1 inch hairline to rim at 7 o'clock