Teacup in sweet white glaze with incised dragons decor, Ming dynasty, Yongle reign (1403-1424)-China Archive

Image Number: K1B017641N000000000PAB
Dynasty: Ming dynasty
Category: Ceramics
Function: Container
Material: Minerals/Ceramics/
Description:
The tea bell is painted with sweet white glaze. The inner wall is decorated with double cloud dragon patterns. The wall of the bowl is even thin and the feet are exposed. It is white and delicate. The inner needle is engraved with “Yongle New Year” four character two line seal characters, plus a single circle. However, the carving is shallow and thin, which is difficult to identify. Yongle Tiaokou tea bell has a beautiful shape and rich glaze, which is also the prototype of porcelain body painted enamel tea bell in the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. Since the Yongle period, Jingdezhen official kiln of the Ming Dynasty has made a major breakthrough in the production of white porcelain. The content of aluminum oxide in kaolin has increased, and the composition of flux limestone has been reduced in the transparent glaze, avoiding the occurrence of white glaze cyanosis. Therefore, the product is white and plump, similar to the color of white granulated sugar, so it has the reputation of “sweet white”. According to the Investigation Report, it may be named “Yongle style white porcelain bodiless dark dragon tea clock” according to the old name of the Qing Palace. It was said in the Ming Dynasty that “Ou is used to taste tea,