The dish is covered with an overglaze iron-yellow enamel featuring a blue 6-character reign mark. Monochrome yellow porcelain served as ceremonial wares during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Yellow was used during the Zhou period (1027–256 BCE) to symbolise the Earth. Following this tradition, the Ming emperors used monochrome yellow porcelain at the Altar of the Earth. The reign mark at the base of the dish is that of Emperor Zhengde (1506-1521).
