This small plate with impressed design at first glance appears to be a typical example of so-called "northern celadon" produced at the Huang-lo kiln complex at Tung-chuan, Yao-chou county, Shansi province. Close examination, however, shows a design in the caveto comprised of young boys playing with dogs in a lush, garden-like setting complete with Tai-hu rocks. This very rare motif of children and dogs has only one recorded counterpart; a bowl of similar size in Osaka, Japan.