Antique Chinese & Japanese PorcelainEuropean Ceramics & Works of Art
Chinese ‘twin fish’ qingbai dish, Ming dynasty, with moulded decoration depicting two fish swimming in a pond amongst flowering lotus and leaves, the cavetto with a petal design and keyfret pattern band, with turquoise qingbai glaze, the rims wiped clean before firing to reveal the stoneware body.
Dimensions:
Diameter: 10.5cm. (4 1/8in.).
Condition:
Very slight nibbles to biscuit rim
Notes:
The fushao technique of firing wares on their rims was first developed at northern kilns, but soon spread to the South. Fish symbolise wealth in China, as the character yu (魚, fish) is homophonous with yu (裕, abundance). Qingbai wares, whose name translates to 'blue white', were developed in Jiangxi province during the Song dynasty. The icy blue colour is caused by iron impurities in the glaze reacting with the smoky atmosphere of a reduction kiln. Dragon kilns (lungyao) were especially common in southern China, and relied on wood for fuel, which resulted in a 'reducing' atmosphere where oxygen levels are lowered and metallic oxides convert.
Guest & Gray 58 Davies StreetLondonW1K 5LP
