Flat plate on footring, wide flat rim. Decorated in underglaze blue. In the centre a star-shaped panel containing a lotus surrounded by three rows of linked cash motifs. On the rim eight lotus flowers and scrolls. On the reverse eight single peonies. On the base the six-character mark Chenghua in a double circle. The symmetrical decoration is characteristic of the sometimes rather rigid decorations on late 17th-century Kangxi porcelain. The often skilfully painted scenes of landscapes and figures of late transitional porcelain disappeared soon after the Jingdezhen kilns were restored and resumed production c. 1677. The re-implementation of the Imperial prescripts governing objects produced for the court also dictated the style of unregulated production for both the local market and export. The lotus is the Buddhist symbol of purity and love. It is impartial and therefore a highly appropriate motif having no references to earlier political situations. As the plate, cat. 52, this shape is probably also derived from a Western pewter plate.