Vietnamese Bleu de Hue Porcelain Dish W/Pagoda Boat Scene, Shi (Poem), & Silver Rim (Has Shop Mark) - This blue and white porcelain dish was made in China, as Vietnamese export ware. Most "Bleu de Hue" porcelain was ordered by the Vietnamese court by way of diplomatic missions to China, and most was produced in Jingdezhen with special designs and marks. Typically, this very high quality porcelain was ordered from China for the court use. Although Chinese artisans executed the painting, Vietnamese rulers dictated the designs. Each ruler ordered ceramics of his own liking for use in his court, as well as presentation pieces to give to members of royal families and mandarin officials. This dish has a scene of a pagoda boat in a bay, and has a shi (poem) in calligraphy in the top left corner. The dish also bears the artemesia leaf mark near the shi, and also has a shop mark on the back of the piece. The dish is finished with a metal rim, as selected vessels were finished with rims of silver as early as the Han dynasty to set them apart from the ordinary and to make them suitable for high class clients, and to also protect them from damage. This is truly a stunning piece, with high attention to detail. Measures 7" in diameter x 1.25"H.