A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE ‘QILIN’ DISH, TRANSITIONAL TO EARLY KANGXI PERIODExpert’s note: The ‘Dexin Tang zhi’ inscription to the base is a studio mark that apparently was used during the Kangxi period. For the dating range, we chose the beginning of the Chongzhen reign (1627) and the end of the British Museum dating for their dish (1683).China, 1627-1683. The interior boldly painted in shades of cobalt blue with a lively qilin sitting on its scaly back haunches, one front leg outstretched, the other with hoof raised, the head gazing forward with bulging eyes and mouth agape revealing sharp fangs, all amid rockwork and a lush plantain tree. The reverse with two spirals and a lozenge. The recessed base with an underglaze-blue four-character studio mark within a double circle.Inscriptions: To the base, ‘Dexin Tang zhi’Provenance: Swedish trade. By repute acquired from an old private estate.Condition: Old wear, a shallow chip to the rim, four hairlines, and some manufacturing flaws including firing cracks, pitting, minuscule frits along the rim, and wave-shaped glaze pooling partially burned to pale orange in the firing process. Overall displaying exceptionally well.Weight: 2,318 gDimensions: Diameter 35.6 cmStoutly potted with rounded sides supported on a short tapered foot. Covered in a transparent glaze below the café-au-lait rim.Literatureparison:Compare a related blue and white dish with qilin, marked ‘yu tang dia qi’, 35.6 cm diameter, dated to the Kangxi period, 1662-1683, in the British Museum, registration number Franks.769.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2019, lot 312Price: USD 16,250 or approx.EUR 17,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A fine and large blue and white 'qilin' dish, Qing dynasty, Shunzhi periodExpert remark:pare the closely related form, motif, colors, and size (35 cm)過渡時期至康熙初期大型青花麒麟盤中國，1627-1683年。淺弧腹，圈足。盤内青花著色濃淡不一，活潑的麒麟成坐姿，一隻前腿伸出，另一隻蹄子抬起，頭部向前回視，大眼圓睜，張牙咧嘴，周圍岩石樹木。盤背面青花繪製兩個螺旋紋和一個菱形。圈足内青花四字款。專家注釋：“德馨堂製”款在康熙時期被使用，但對於年代界定，我們定的範圍是崇禎年間（1627 年）至大英博物館預測的康熙初期（1683 年）。款識：德馨堂製