Blue and white Kui dragon pot

[Blue and white Kui dragon pot]

Blue and white Kui dragon pot, 19 cm high, 15.8 cm caliber, 13.8 cm foot diameter
The tank has a straight mouth, a bulging belly, and a full inner circle. White glaze is applied inside and outside, and blue and white patterns are applied outside. The neck and shoulders are decorated with Ruyi head patterns. The belly is painted with two Kui dragon head and tail patterns. A lotus petal pattern is painted near the bottom. The bottom is painted with white glaze, and the regular script “made in Xuande year of the Ming Dynasty” is written in six characters and two lines in blue and white circles
Xuande blue and white patterns are famous for their smooth lines and bold and vivid patterns. Kui dragon pattern used in blue and white porcelain began in Xuande Dynasty, and became a typical pattern on porcelain in Chenghua, which was also widely used in later generations. The blue material used in Xuande was called “Su Ma Li Qing” according to Wang Shimao’s “Look at the Sky” and Huang Yizheng’s “The Pearl of Things” in the Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty. This kind of blue material has high iron content and low manganese content, and can present a bright color like sapphire blue after being fired in a moderate furnace atmosphere. However, due to its high iron content, uneven black crystal spots are often naturally formed in the blue and white color, which contrast with the bright blue, and further enhance its artistic charm. The blue and white color of this pot is characteristic of this era.

青花夔龙纹罐底款