This thickly potted offering dish has a gilt-edged wavy rim, shallow centre and a high footring. It is richly decorated with a pair of red dragons amidst ruyi-shaped clouds in a yellow ground and while the inner rim features the auspicious Eight Buddhist Emblems.Altar vessels like this example were used only for making religious offerings. Yellow enamelled wares were reserved for use on the grand altar while 'famille rose' porcelain was most likely to have been used at the ancestral altar, where elaborate offerings of food were made at least four times a year. Altar vessels also included bowls, dishes, dishes and spoons, which were laid out as if to present a meal to the ancestors.
