stem cup BM-1968-0423.2

Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1403-1424
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, moulded, anhua, underglazed,
Subjects:flaming jewel dragon
Dimensions:Diameter: 15 centimetres Height: 10.10 centimetres

Description:
Porcelain stem cup with anhua moulded and reserved decoration on an underglaze red ground. This finely potted stem cup has an elegantly formed bowl with funnel-shaped sides and a gently everted lip. It stands on a broad hollow stem which spreads towards the foot. Inside it is moulded with an anhua design of dragons in the cavetto and is covered with a clear glaze. Outside the decoration is reserved in white on a copper-red ground. Two five-clawed dragons with closed jaws are seen chasing their flaming pearls among ruyi clouds and the stem has a band of classic scroll framed by double white lines above the foot. The stem is glazed inside.
IMG


Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:Rigorous quality control was imposed on the production of such stem cups at the imperial factory at Jingdezhen in the Yongle period. Shards of a stem cup with the same design and shape, but with a failed copper-red background, were excavated from the west side of Zhonghua Road, Zhushan, Jingdezhen, in 1988. From recent archaeological evidence we know that similar decoration was used for pear-shaped ewers and large bowls.