The vessel’s purpose is speculate. Aquarium for Chinese Box Turtles? When filled with about a 1/2 of water the 3 lotus blossoms become’islands’ for the small aquatic turtles to climb, play & rest. The Imperial yellow interior wall stands 2 tall and is decorated with floral & fauna (Chinese box turtle food). Was this a one-of-a-kind, custom-made gift presented to a young Chinese monarch? Chinese miniature koi pond. Koi originated in China. Or, could this bowl have held a combo of box turtles and koi? Filled with about a 1/2 of water little birds could land on the lotus blossoms and drink from the pool. Elaborate (Chinese nobility) wash basin? There are similar Chinese bonsai’pen’ basins (cast in bronze) dating to 1100 B. Search google for “Pen, The Origins of the Shallow Tray” (see both pages: Part I and Part II). Scroll down the pages to view basins with similar 3-dimensional (snake & bird) figures rising out of the interior-centers of the bowls. And while these are the only similar examples we can find, this vessel is clearly not for bonsai. Rose famille was introduced in 1720 and this piece could very well date to that period. It is signed on the bottom-center with a traditional squared-off Chinese mark but the signature is no longer readable. 100% hand pottered, hand incised and hand painted. Large and impressive piece of Art Pottery. Measures just under 14″ across the rim and stands 3″ high. Or Parcel Post for large or heavy packages. The item “BOX TURTLE aquarium antique chinese pottery bird bowl vtg famille rose porcelain” is in sale since Thursday, July 30, 2015. This item is in the category “Pottery & Glass\Pottery & China\Art Pottery\Other Asian Pottery”. The seller is “wetinwashington” and is located in Tracyton, Washington. This item can be shipped worldwide.