Stem bowl with incised decoration of two dragons in sweet white glaze, Ming dynasty, Yongle reign (1403-1424)-China Archive

Image Number: K1B017823N000000000PAC
Dynasty: Ming dynasty
Category: Ceramics
Function: Dietetic apparatus
Material: Mineral/ceramic/porcelain
Description:
Skim mouth, deep arc wall, high circle foot. The inner wall of the device is decorated with dark patterns of five claws, two dragons and cloud patterns. The center of the device is decorated with a single circle, and the periphery is decorated with undulating regular lace. Inside the circle, the cone arch is decorated with “Yongle New Year” two line straight seal characters; This circle shaped lace pattern seems to symbolize the dragon bead fire pattern, and the overall pattern may be double dragons playing with the pearl. The outer wall is plain without grain. The fetal wall is even thin, and the base and ring foot are slightly thick; The sole of the foot is exposed, and the embryo is delicate and white; The high sole is slightly convex. The whole body is covered with sweet white glaze. The accumulated glaze is slightly green. The glaze is white and moist, with “orange peel” brown eyelets. Yongle white glaze, whether thin or thick, is mostly white and moist as grease, so it is called “sweet white”. Monochromatic glazes, such as white glaze, red glaze and other round ware bowls, cups and the inner walls of high foot ware, are commonly decorated with dark flowers, while double dragon patterns are quite common.