Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1540-1600 (circa)
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:scholar
Dimensions:Diameter: 14.50 centimetres (a) Diameter: 14.60 centimetres (b) Height: 7 centimetres
Description:
A pair of porcelain bowls with underglaze blue decoration. These bowls have rounded sides, a ‘mantou’ centre and a straight foot. Both are painted inside with a medallion in underglaze blue, framing a figure wearing a long round-necked robe and a hat with wings, carrying a tally and accompanied by a deer. Outside, “a” shows a man holding a long pole under his right arm, pointing with his other arm at two further figures. His clothes suggest that he is a foreigner or historical figure – a round hat with a feather, knee-length robe and striped hose. The other two are scholar-officials, standing before a large stele. In “b” the same setting is shown at night, indicated by the full moon. One of the scholars is pointing and the other looks at him. The foreigner holds a banner on a long pole over his shoulder. The square mark on the base encloses four characters, two of which read 余 造 ‘Yu zao’ [Made by Mr Yu]. The other two characters are illegible.
IMG
![图片[1]-bowl BM-1984-0202.32.a-b-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00325686_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:It has been suggested that the figures dressed in the strange costume may represent the Song dynasty official Liang Shanbo, a character from the popular novel ‘Shui hu zhuan’ [The Water Margin]. This fourteenth-century swashbuckling tale of bandits striving to live Robin Hood-style as outlaws, because of the actions of corrupt Song officials, was extremely popular in the late Ming era when the government was untrustworthy.
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:scholar
Dimensions:Diameter: 14.50 centimetres (a) Diameter: 14.60 centimetres (b) Height: 7 centimetres
Description:
A pair of porcelain bowls with underglaze blue decoration. These bowls have rounded sides, a ‘mantou’ centre and a straight foot. Both are painted inside with a medallion in underglaze blue, framing a figure wearing a long round-necked robe and a hat with wings, carrying a tally and accompanied by a deer. Outside, “a” shows a man holding a long pole under his right arm, pointing with his other arm at two further figures. His clothes suggest that he is a foreigner or historical figure – a round hat with a feather, knee-length robe and striped hose. The other two are scholar-officials, standing before a large stele. In “b” the same setting is shown at night, indicated by the full moon. One of the scholars is pointing and the other looks at him. The foreigner holds a banner on a long pole over his shoulder. The square mark on the base encloses four characters, two of which read 余 造 ‘Yu zao’ [Made by Mr Yu]. The other two characters are illegible.
IMG
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:It has been suggested that the figures dressed in the strange costume may represent the Song dynasty official Liang Shanbo, a character from the popular novel ‘Shui hu zhuan’ [The Water Margin]. This fourteenth-century swashbuckling tale of bandits striving to live Robin Hood-style as outlaws, because of the actions of corrupt Song officials, was extremely popular in the late Ming era when the government was untrustworthy.
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