This pure white, reproduction porcelain dish with overglazed plum blossom design is a style of ceramics made for the exclusive use of Chairman Mao. These were used at Zhongnanhai, the home of the highest ranking members of the Communist party in Beijing. Other items in the set include bowls, tea spoons, dishes, ashtrays, vases and other decorative pieces.The plum blossom motif has been popular in Chinese art for centuries. Regarded as a symbol of endurance, it has come to signify the communists’ perseverance in the revolutionary struggle.