Note: This 18th Century stand is a revival of Yongle prototypes, which were inspired by Mamluk period metalwork stands, c.1300-1350, which were used as supports for circular metal trays for a convenient height to eat while seated on the ground. By comparison, he 18th Century examples appear to be even rarer. The inscriptions on all known examples, including the present example, are indecipherable.

Reference: for a similar tray stand see no.33, Knapton Rasti Asian Art, November 2001; another p.67, Guci bianshang, Beijing, 1995; and for Yongle period examples see p.176-182, An Early Ming Porcelain Stand from Damascus, Oriental Art, New Series XII, John Carswell, Autumn 1966; another in the Tianjin Municipal Museum Collection, Tianjin Municipal Museum, plate 79; and another in the British Museum, Oriental Ceramics, The World’s Great Collections, vol.5, no.181; again illustrated no.3:22, p.110-11, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, Jessica Harrison-Hall, London 2001; and plate 46, p.48, vol.34, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Beijing, where the example has been called a zun.