Jiaqing mark and period (1796-1820), the interior with a cartouche with gilt borders inscribed with a long poem in praise of good tea, dated to Jiaqing dingsi year (1797), the sides delicately enamelled with meandering lotus and other floral scrolls, all reserved on a pale-green ground, raised on four gilt bracket feet on wood stand. W. 158mm

Provenance: Errol Willis Collection; Rex Jennings Collection

A similar green-ground quatrefoil tea-tray inscribed with the same poem can be found in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, as illustrated by Liu Liang-yu, A Survey of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 5, Taiwan, 1991, p. 256.

In general very good condition with minor surface and enamel wear. Very minor scattered firing flaws. The wood stand with some repairing to the legs.