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Bowl with dragons
Bowl with dragons

Bowl with dragons

Place of OriginJingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China
DynastyMing dynasty (1368-1644), Reign of the Hongzhi emperor (1488-1505)
MaterialsGlazed porcelain with incised decoration unglazed
DimensionsH. 3 5/8 in x Diam. 7 3/4 in, H. 9.2 cm x Diam. 19.7 cm
Credit LineThe Avery Brundage Collection
Object numberB60P2079
DepartmentChinese Art
ClassificationsCeramics
On View
Not on view
MarkingsHongzhi mark of the period. The six-character mark at the base reads: "Produced during the Hongzhi reign of the great Ming."
More Information
On the outside of the bowl, two dragons playing with a pearl in clouds are set off by hidden wave patterns. The reserve decorations with incised passages depicting the dragon's bodies bear a pinkish color. This is the result of iron-oxidization, which on the white-glazed ground presents an impressive effect. This piece is very possibly unfinished, with the glaze ready for the application of overglaze pigments, which began in the early fifteenth century. The attenuated bodies of the dragons, with their narrow necks, are typical of this period of manufacture.