PROVENANCE: From The Collections of Mike Gaither (Mar 1943 - Nov 2021) Rome, GA; US Navy Veteran 1959-1982. With a sense of duty for his country Mike joined the US Navy in 1959 the idea was to see the world and obtain an education that would propel his future. The opportunity to become part of the submarine fleet was compelling and once involved it became his career path of choice. In 1964 he married his lifelong partner Annie Nix. Additional fields include intercultural and race relations, Drug and Alcohol training. With a long career in the Navy his desire to visit many foreign countries was fulfilled. His desire to be a leader in the open markets directed his path into the pastoral leadership where he was able to train and work with people in Italy Guam Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands, Republic of Palau, with visits to such countries Germany, and mostly Asian Countries. With the opportunity to be in such places also provided the knowledge and ability to obtain collectables from the area. Reaching a point where one feels that it is time to downsize and realign their assets this has opened the door for others to add these items into their private collections. The quality is exceptional, pristine and highly sought after. Dimensions: Width: 17cm, Height: 1.5cmChinese Ming Dynasty Underglaze Red Porcelain Small Plate. The plates has a small central interior, rounded mouth lip, thick, raised on correspondence footed ring base slight concave. Hand painted ornamentations are rendered in clean white base color which contrast against red fine color, depicted of carp swims over water plants. The Carp Similar sounding to the word Business in Chinese, the carp symbolizes a wish for benefit or advantage in business, and accepted to represent longevity, wealth, abundance, and perseverance. The underside unglazed, revealed the pale-creme ground revealed and dark greyish brown spotted firing marks and edge-cut foot rim.