Dish, 16th century
Unknown artist, Chinaexpand_more
Glazed porcelainexpand_more
Gift of the Helen D. Ling collectionexpand_more 2013.36.2
Not on Viewexpand_more
Emperor Jiajing was a devout Daoist and Daoist symbolism became a common decorative element during his reign. In Daoist mythology, dragons were symbolic of yang, the male principle, spring, rain, and the East. This small dish shows dragons cavorting amid clouds. A unique feature for Jiajing period is the use of huiqing or ‘Mohammedan blue,’ a form of imported cobalt which is purplish-blue in color tone. However, this form of cobalt tended to smudge during the firing process. By mixing imported cobalt with cobalt was mined locally, potters were able to produce the bright blue seen here, while still maintaining the crisp quality of their painted designs.
Details
- Title
- Dish
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2013.36.2
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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