Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1600-1644 (circa)
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:dragon
Dimensions:Diameter: 10.50 centimetres Height: 11 centimetres
Description:
Porcelain jar with underglaze blue decoration. Heavily potted, this container has a wider neck than base and an ogee-form profile. The foot has a bevelled edge and a mildly recessed base. Where the porcelain has fired in the biscuit, it is pure and white. Only the upper section is covered with a matte glaze and beneath this two comical ‘chi’ dragons have been painted with stylized clouds.
IMG
![图片[1]-jar BM-1924-1227.1-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00264113_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:The form of this container suggests two possible uses: either it could have been used as a mortar for preparing herbs and medicines; or, alternatively, it may have had a cover and been used as a container for counters for the game known as ‘wei qi’ [literally, surround chess], which is also known by its Japanese name ‘go’. If the container was intended for the latter purpose, an identical container would have been used by the opposing player. In ‘wei qi’, uniform round counters, made in two contrasting colours, are placed on the intersection of lines rather than in the empty squares as in Western chess. The game is played by forming continuous chains of the same coloured counter, to surround as much of the board as possible. The player with the largest number of enclosed spaces wins.
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:dragon
Dimensions:Diameter: 10.50 centimetres Height: 11 centimetres
Description:
Porcelain jar with underglaze blue decoration. Heavily potted, this container has a wider neck than base and an ogee-form profile. The foot has a bevelled edge and a mildly recessed base. Where the porcelain has fired in the biscuit, it is pure and white. Only the upper section is covered with a matte glaze and beneath this two comical ‘chi’ dragons have been painted with stylized clouds.
IMG
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:The form of this container suggests two possible uses: either it could have been used as a mortar for preparing herbs and medicines; or, alternatively, it may have had a cover and been used as a container for counters for the game known as ‘wei qi’ [literally, surround chess], which is also known by its Japanese name ‘go’. If the container was intended for the latter purpose, an identical container would have been used by the opposing player. In ‘wei qi’, uniform round counters, made in two contrasting colours, are placed on the intersection of lines rather than in the empty squares as in Western chess. The game is played by forming continuous chains of the same coloured counter, to surround as much of the board as possible. The player with the largest number of enclosed spaces wins.
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