Accession Number
1977/2.18

Title
Square Dish

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1621-1627

Medium & Support
porcelain with underglaze, overglaze, clear glaze, and gold leaf repairs

Dimensions
1 1/4 in x 6 1/8 in x 6 1/8 in (3.1 cm x 15.5 cm x 15.5 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Augusta Plumer Weiss Memorial Fund

Subject matter
A wucai (五彩) porcelain dish of the Tianqi period (1621-1627) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). 

The discovery of kaolin clay at Jingdezhen, Jiangxi led to the establishment of official kilns during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), and the production of pure, white, hard paste porcelain and porcelain decorated with underglaze blue. During the 13th century of the Yuan dynasty, with the establishment of Pax Mongolia, blue and white porcelains were exported to Europe and the Middle East, as both tribute gifts, as well as, for the overseas export market. This continued through the Ming dynasty where porcelain was used domestically by all classes of society. A vast array of forms and designs were made to appeal to a large and diverse overseas, as well as, domestic market.   

During the mid-Ming, combinations of underglaze blue with overglaze enamel decoration were sometimes used. Underglaze blue could be combined with one or two colors, or even three to eight colors which is refered to as wucai (五彩). While wucai literally means "five colors" in actuality it is used to describe wares featuring several colors. Chinese landscapes such as this would have had an exotic appeal to the overseas market.  

Physical Description
A squared porcelain dish with flat bottom, curved sides, and flat straight rim, painted in underglaze porcelain blue and overglaze red and green to create a night landscape on the base. Featuring a willow tree overlooking a body of water with a fishing boat, there is a moon in the sky, and floral sprays around the sides. Underglaze blue vine meanders around the rim. The dish is on a square footring and has gold leaf repairs.

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
dish

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Wucai (Chinese ceramics styles)
boat
ceramic (material)
cobalt (mineral)
cobalt blue (pigment)
dishes
enamel (fused coating)
flower (motif)
landscapes (representations)
plates (general, dishes)
porcelain (material)
porcelain (visual works)
trees
water