A Chinese famille rose ruby ground imperially inscribed quadrilobed tray

A Chinese famille rose ruby ground imperially inscribed quadrilobed tray, Jiaqing seal mark and of the period, with shallow rounded sides, the interior inscribed in iron-red with an imperial poem praising well prepared tea, dated to the cyclical year of dingsi, corresponding to 1797. The inscription is surrounded by stylised lotus on a ruby ground, the exterior with four elongated narrow feet, and the base painted with a ruby ground and a six-character Jiaqing mark in iron-red, 17cm x 12.5cm

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By descent from Montagu George Knight (1844-1914). He was the owner of Chawnton Estate and Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for Hampshire. He was the great nephew of the author Jane Austen (1775-1817)

The inscription on this dish is composed by the Jiaqing Emperor and praises the pleasures of drinking tea. This follows a tradition of inscribing vessels with a tea-related poem, that one sees on bowls 50 years earlier. Blue and white, iron-red and cinnabar lacquer bowls were inscribed with the Sanqing cha ('Three Purities Tea’) poem composed by the Qianlong Emperor and dated to 1746.

The translation of this poem reads:

'Finest tribute tea of the first picking

And a bright full moon prompt a line of verse.

A lively fire glows in the bamboo stove,

The water is boiling in the stone griddle,

Small bubbles rise like ears of fish or crab.

Of rare Chi'i-ch'iang tea, rolled into tiny balls,

One cup is enough to lighten the heart,

And dissipate the early winter chill.’