Small openwork rosette depicting the ’Three friends of Winter’, the plum tree, pine tree and bamboo. The pine tree and the bamboo remain green even in icy winters while the plum is the first to bloom every year. They are admired for their resistance to the elements. All three are symbols of longevity. The centre is formed by a large Plum blossom while Bamboo, plum and Pine are depicted on the rim. A similar type of flower (nr 389) is depicted in professor Cheng Te-k’un’s book ‘Jade Flowers and Floral Patterns in Chinese Decorative Art’。