jar; cover BM-1972-0619.1.a

Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1403-1424
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:flower
Dimensions:Height: 14 centimetres (with lid) Width: 12.50 centimetres

Description:
Porcelain jar and cover painted in underglaze blue. This ovoid jar has a wide base with a narrow foot ring, short neck with a broad mouth and a domed cover with a lotus-bud finial. It is exquisitely painted with a continuous scene of assorted flowering plants growing from a sketchily delineated ground, including Chinese pinks, chrysanthemums, millet, hostas and other herbaceous plants. The base is glazed and slightly concave.
IMG


Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:Plants growing in this fashion from undulating soil may also be seen on a blue-and-white pen box excavated from the Yongle stratum at Zhushan in 1984. In support of this dating are the pure white porcelain body and soft-focus blue cobalt effect employed on the present jar.