Bowl
Chinese
Description
Subject Matter:
A longquan celadon large dish of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), carved with a central peony motif surrounded by lotus petals. Peonies are associated with wealth, imperial splendor, and the erotic appeal of a beautiful woman. Lotus flowers are associated with Pure Land Buddhism where practitioners are reborn into Amitabha's Western Paradise through lotus buds. However, both of these motifs were popular during the Yuan and Ming dynasties and their meaning would have been diffused.
Longquan is the most representative, widespread, and esteemed ware of the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). Production started during the Five Dynasties period (907–960) at the kilns near the market town of Longquan, where in later dynasties much of the ware was collected for shipping. Technological advances such as the development of a multi-chambered, rising kiln and the use of stacked saggars (protective clay boxes) allowed for increased production in the Southern Song. In Yuan (1279–1368) and Ming (1368–1644) times, the kilns supplied wares to a domestic market as well as to overseas markets in Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
Physical Description:
This is a wide, shallow stoneware bowl with everted rim, on a footring. The interior is incised with a central peony motif surrounded by lotus petals, covered in a green celadon glaze.
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