Description
This tray depicts a pair of birds in a fruit tree growing off a rocky cliff overlooking water. One bird is resting on a branch while the other is in flight. This is a very classic Chinese landscape pattern (trees off of rocks overlooking the water). The convex edges rim the center plate with 9 auspicious treasure symbols including coral, duster, scrolls, fan, golden coin, rhinoceros horn cups and other yet to be identified objects (perhaps pearl).
Differentiating between the patterns for roosters (雄鸡纹), pheasants (雉鸡纹) and the golden pheasant (锦鸡纹) can be tricky. Adding to that, pheasants are often interchanged for phoenixes (鳳凰) which means the symbolism intended here cannot be determined until the birds themselves are conclusively determined.
Regardless of the specific fowl depicted, the pairing of two birds is suggestive of a Yin/Yang element and perhaps this tray was a gift for a marriage.
The back of the tray is supported by a foot ring, the curved sides decorated with fruiting sprigs and inset in the middle are the marks “Fu shou” (福壽) meaning happiness & longevity.
Dating inlay is always a tricky proposition however much of the inlay work on this tray uses larger incised pieces of mother of pearl suggesting a possibly earlier dating.
From a old Japanese collection
As always with mother of pearl inlay, there is also a chance this is a Ryukyu Kingdom piece. For more information on the Ryukyu kingdom and its Chinese influences click here.
Size: 21.5 x 21.5 x 2 cm
Box: 25 x 25 x 8 cm