Tankard with lotus scrolls in underglaze blue, Ming dynasty, Xuande reign (1426-1435)-China Archive

Image Number: C1B002907N000000000PAE
Dynasty: Ming dynasty
Category: Ceramics
Function: Floral apparatus
Material: Mineral/ceramic/porcelain
Description:
Water with blue and white flowers. The mouth is wide, the neck is straight, and the abdomen is huge. The wishbone connects the neck and abdomen, and the flat bottom is concave into the foot. The whole vessel is decorated with underglaze cobalt blue glaze, which is light and dry. The handle is decorated with flowers and rolled grass. The neck of the instrument is decorated with lotus petal patterns, the ribs between the neck and the abdomen are a circle, the upper and lower outer walls of the abdomen are decorated with lotus petal patterns, the main pattern of the abdomen is decorated with curly branches of lotus leaves, and all kinds of lotus flowers with equal distance decoration are in full bloom. There is also a horizontal single line six character regular script of “Xuande Nian System of the Ming Dynasty”. The bottom exposed tire has no style decoration. This shape can also be seen in Islamic metal ware or works influenced by Islam at that time.