Dish with flowering branches China, Kangxi period... Lot 50

Dish with flowering branches China, Kangxi period (1661-1722) Chinese porcelain; green, brown and red enamels Mark on the back D. 34,5 cm This important circular tray in lapis lazuli presents a rich ornamentation in marquetry of hard stones inspired by the famous table of Apollo and the Muses now preserved in Palazzo Pitti (fig. 1). The solar quadriga of Apollo, circumscribed by a garland of flowers in a medallion, is at the center of the composition. It is surrounded by a crown of foliage divided into nine smaller medallions decorated with the attributes of the Muses - the mask of Tragedy for Melpomene, the actress Thalie, the oboes in saltire for Euterpe, the scroll of the eloquent Polymnia, the tablets of History for Clio, the celestial globe of Urania, the roses of Calliope, the lyre of Erato and that of Terpsichore. A profuse garland of flowers and a frieze of interlacing border this tray. Its decoration is faithful to that of its model, the last of the great creations of the Grand Ducal Manufactory of Florence before the unification of Italy.