Dish with swallows, one of a pair

Along with (cat. no. 473), this work shows a common type of late Ming work, roughly made with sand adhering to the foot and a bluish-white glaze. These common wares make an interesting comparison with the neatly treated official wares. Often, the marks of former Ming reigns were inscribed in a manner imitating genuine scripts. Mass produced at kilns in Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong, many such works were shipped overseas. The cheerful message in the picture of eleven swallows swooping over bamboo and flowers suggests the bright spring to come. The green, red, purple, and yellow passages are emphasized by black outlines.