dish BM-1968-0422.40

Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1465-1487
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, doucai, underglazed,
Subjects:animal kirin
Dimensions:Diameter: 18 centimetres Height: 3 centimetres

Description:
Porcelain dish with decoration in underglaze blue and overglaze enamel in ‘doucai’ style. This dish has low rounded sides which flare out to the metal bound rim and a recessed convex base. The base is marked in the centre with an underglaze blue six-character Chenghua reign mark in a double square. Inside the dish is sunken in the centre and is also depressed at the edge of the cavetto where the foot ring is attached outside. Painted in the centre in ‘doucai’ is the mythical ‘qilin’ with wings, a deer’s head and horns, a lion’s tail and a scaly body. It is shown sitting in a roundel surrounded by ruyi clouds. Outside four fantastical animals with streamers at their shoulders are portrayed gambolling over waves among ruyi cloud skies.
IMG


Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:These enamels are badly discoloured, but a dish of the same design was excavated with spectacularly colourful enamels at Jingdezhen.