Dish with Floral Design
Dish with Floral Design
Datelate Ming dynasty, 17th century
Mediumswatow ware, porcelain with cobalt blue glaze and slip-decorated floral design
Dimensionsobject: 3 3/4 x 15 1/4 in. (diam.) (9.5 x 38.7 cm)
ClassificationCERAMICS
Credit LineSBMA, Museum Purchase with John and Peggy Maximus Fund
Object number2008.28
Subject(s)
- flowers
Collection
- Asian
Sub-Collection(s)
- Chinese
On View
On viewLabel Text
This large dish exemplifies the best of a diverse group of provincial ceramics created in the late Ming to early Qing period in southern China. They are collectively known as ‘Swatow’ wares, a name derived from the southern seaport Shantou in Guangdong province. These ceramics were exported to Japan, Southeast Asia and Indonesia. Eventually, many Swatow wares made their way to Europe. Today the largest collection of Swatow wares is in the Netherlands.
Unlike the more typical polychrome Swatow porcelains, this dish employs only two colors, creamy-white on blue. The explosive floral patterns are applied in slip (clay paste) with great speed and spontaneity, reflecting the vigor of mass-produced popular aesthetics.
