Stem bowl with dragon and cloud decoration in sweet-white glaze, Ming dynasty, Yongle reign (1403-1424)-China Archive

Image Number: K1B005584N000000000PAE
Dynasty: Ming dynasty
Category: Ceramics
Function: Container
Material: Minerals/Ceramics/
Description:
The mouth of the Gaozu bowl is outer, deep, and high. The embryo is fine and white, the bowl wall is very thin, and only the foot wall is thick. The whole body is covered with white and warm glaze, and the body is exposed only at the foot landing place. The inner wall of the body has a conical arch cloud dragon pattern. In the center of the bowl, there is a “Yongle Year” double line four character seal script, plus a single circle. The conical arch pattern is covered with sweet white glaze. Only under the light, can you have a glimpse of the decorative pattern, which is very attractive. Some scholars speculate that the practice of conical arch patterns may be affected by the patterns carved on gold and silver wares in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. The Records of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty recorded in Ding Weitiao in October of the fourth year of Yongle that “when I came back, I thought about getting into the jade bowl, but I didn’t accept it, and ordered the Ministry of Rites to give me money and send it back. It is said by the minister Zheng Ci that” the Chinese magnetic ware I use every day and night is pure and pure, which is very suitable for my heart, so I don’t need to do this “.” This shows the Emperor Yongle’s preference and love for white porcelain.