A PAIR OF BLUE AND WHITE 'MYTHICAL BEASTS' DISHES Xuande four-character mark, Kangxi Each dish with shallow rounded sides rising from a short foot to a slightly everted mouth rim, painted to the centre with a winged elephant across crested waves, with two further bands of mythical beasts encircling the cavetto and exterior. Each: 17.3cm (6 3/4in) diam. (2). Footnotes: Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價 清康熙 青花海水瑞獸紋盤一對 青花「宣德年製」楷書款 Provenance: acquired from R & G McPherson Antiques, London, in 2004 (collector's notes and labels) 來源：獲得于R & G McPherson Antiques，倫敦，2004年（藏家筆記和標簽） The motif of 'sea mythical beasts' recorded in the pre-Qin Classic of Mountains and Seas (山海經), made its initial appearance on ceramics during the Yongle period and is closely associated with Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas, undertaken under the Imperial patronage of the Yongle Emperor. Although the fashion for painting sea creatures on porcelain began in the Yongle period, it flourished during the Xuande reign. Regarded as symbols of auspicious omens, the design became a classic motif of the Ming Yongle and Xuande Imperial kilns and continued to be used in subsequent periods. A possible prototype may be seen in a blue and and white 'sea creatures' dish, Xuande mark and period, in the Qing Court Collection, Palace Museum, Taipei (故瓷003093N000000000). The present lot imitates the style of the Xuande period of the Ming dynasty, but the brushwork is more delicate than the bold manner typical of Xuande wares, and it lacks the characteristic 'rust spots' in the cobalt blue and the 'fired iron-red' effect on the body. For further discussion and a similar blue and white 'mythical beasts' dish, Xuande four-character mark, Kangxi, see Qingdai ciqi shangjian (清代瓷器賞鑒), Shanghai, 1994, p.51, pl.44. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing