Chinese Decorative Plate with 5-Claw Dragon

A five-clawed dragon coils across a plate, and it knows its status.

This decorative plate was made in China in the early 19th century in copper, with colored enamel. The five-clawed dragon was commonly associated with the imperial court, though many enamel wares carried it. The creature winds across a white star-shaped panel in red, among small clouds and a flaming pearl. A deep blue border is crowded with flowers in pink and gold, with a pale beaded rim. The plate stands upright on a slim black metal mount.

About 7 inches across. Small enough for a shelf, loud enough for a room.