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Dish, saucer-shaped with rounded sides, an undercut foot and a glazed base. On the interior a medallion with three egrets among lotus surrounded by a border of lotus in a pond, reserved against wavy water and a band of ruyi. Around the well clumps of lotus and waterweeds growing from waves, separated by clouds and emblems. On the exterior a lotus scroll and peaked rocks rising from waves. A classic scroll above the foot.
On this dish the lotus is represented in its various stages of growth reserved against waves encircling the central scene. The decorative device of waves reserved with flowers or animals appears already on early 15th century porcelain as can the design of emblems amidst lotus flowers. The arrangement in bands of water-associated elements is typical of private kiln-made export wares at the close of the 15th century. The Lena cargo (late 15th c.) held similar dishes with a diversity of central scenes. Dishes of this type are in various collections in South-east Asia. The Jiangxi provincial Museum has a meiping painted with a broad band of lotus buds and flowers reserved against waves.
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