bowl BM-1947-0712.182

Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1465-1487
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:flower
Dimensions:Diameter: 15.20 centimetres Height: 7.20 centimetres

Description:
Porcelain ‘palace bowl’ with underglaze blue decoration. This thinly potted bowl has rounded spreading sides and stands on a tapering foot ring. It is painted inside with a chrysanthemum and foliage in a central medallion and with composite flower scroll in the cavetto, possibly representing the flowers of the four seasons. Outside it is decorated with a continuous scroll of flowers with five distinctive petals and thin straight-sided leaves. The outer rim, foot and join of foot to body are all emphasized by double blue lines. The base carries a six-character Chenghua reign mark in a double ring.
IMG


Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:The flowers around the outside are similar to daylilies but lack the prominent central pistil. At first glance they are comparable to oleander, which has five distinctive petals and is a symbol of beauty and grace. However, oleander flowers grow in clusters, rather than as single blooms. Not only is the floral decoration unusual, but there also appears to be no identical bowl excavated and published from Jingdezhen to date.