Plate with Prunus Blossoms

This plate is decorate with plum blossoms reserved in white against a deep cobalt blue ground which is said to resemble the cracking of an icy river at the end of winter. The sprigs of plum blossoms on the "cracked ice" ground symbolize the passing of winter and the approach of spring. This motif began in the reign of Kangxi (1662-1722) and would continue to be produced on nearly all forms of porcelain for the entirety of the Qing dynasty and especially on plates in the 18th century. The year 1683 during the Kangxi reign (1662-1722) marks the return of the Imperial production of porcelain and the reinstitution of the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen. A revival of imperial blue and white porcelain resulted in superbly crafted porcelains with well combined body, glaze, cobalt pigment, and skillful decoration. Refined blue cobalt allowed for inventive and varied painting techniques.