Size: 5.3 cm.(L)
Of quadrilobed shape, decorated to one side with central panel containing the characters ‘Zhai Jie’, surrounded by finely painted ‘famille-rose’ floral scrolls against a white ground, the reverse similarly decorated, with inscribed Manchu script in the central cartouche, all within raised gilt moulded borders.
Plaques like this were worn during periods of fasting, the term ‘zhaijie’ refers to the requirement for abstinence for three days prior to worshipping of ancestors, Heaven or other gods. Abstinence plaques were made in various materials, including jade, bamboo, painted enamel and porcelain.
PROVENANCE:
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5 October 2016, lot 101
A similar plaque was illustrated in 《Qingdai Ciqi Jianshang》(Appreciation of Qing Porcelain), page182, pl.240.