A rare Chinese blue and white and underglaze copper-red Yuan phoenix plate, 14th century Huge plate with slightly embossed phoenix design and floral decoration in the interior center medallion. The central medallion with a phoenix couple in relief, one in blue, one in copper-red, surrounded by clouds, in typical Yuan style. The inner wall with an applied lotus vine with six lotus blossoms, the blossoms red, the vine itself set in blue. The slightly curved inner wall decorated with embossed lotus and six blooms. On the rim stylized floral decoration. On the outer wall decoration in underglaze blue and white. Comes with an expertise of Dr Cornelia Morper (18.12.1997): "... The special charm of this plate, apart from the rare application technique, is the use of two underglaze colours, cobalt oxide and copper oxide, which is particularly difficult to handle and can easily turn brown during firing. There is no comparable counterpart to this plate. Only a few Yuan porcelains with the same technique are known, but with white relief decoration on a blue ground." Excellent condition. No chips or hairline cracks. Diameter 33.5 cm. Height 5.5 cm. Weight 1.9 kg. Provenance: From the estate of a Munich private collection, acquired on the German art market before 1980. Comes with an expertise of Dr. Cornelia Morper from 1997.Condition: II +