An unusual form, this Chinese export porcelain plate has a wonderful border of openwork interlocking rings, decorated with a mottled effect most likely intended to resemble tortoiseshell. This fine piece is then centered with a beautifully enameled famille rose image of lush flowering peonies and chrysanthemums with a very exotic butterfly. Measuring 8 3/8″ in diameter and in very good condition. An example of similar form in the collections of the Rijksmuseum in the Imari palette which they attribute to the first quarter of the 18th century, this famille rose example circa 1740-1745. (condition – no restoration … the staining on the reverse is original to the piece and likely occurred in the firing process)