Interior  of the  " Famille Rose Blue-ground " Daoguang  medaillon bowl.

The underglaze-blue decorated scene  illustrates the Cowherd & Weaver Girl story, united in heaven by the magpie-bridge, surrounded on the sides with further flames and magpies : these 2 personnages are in fact 2 celestial lovers who were married on earth. Upon returning home,the King and Queen of Heaven separated the lovers with a single stroke of the latter's silver hairpin, drawing a line across the heavens.  The 2 were forced to live apart on different sides of  the Heavenly River ( the  Milky Way ).  Once a year, on the 7th month, the magpies reunite the lovers by making a bridge for the Weaver Girl to cross . This is the scene illustrated here !