Representative of the high quality porcelain production of Jingdezhen is this large plate painted in cobalt oxide. Cobalt was imported from Persia and utilized by the potters at Jingdezhen to create designs such as this. Here we see a bold design of a dragon amidst crashing waves surrounded by a circular frieze of peony flowers. The peony often symbolizes wealth or rank, and the dragon is usually associated with the emperor. A smooth, white porcelain was used (qing bai) and a suspension of finely ground cobalt oxide in water was used to paint designs onto the bisque surface of the clay. A transparent glaze was applied over the whole piece allowing the design to show through.
Shakespeare, writing contemporaneously in 'Measure for Measure,' has a character state: 'They are not China dishes, but very good dishes!' showing that even at this time, Chinese Porcelain was the standard against which all other pottery was judged, and that in the English language, the product had become synonymous with the country: China.
Ming Dynasty Blue and White Plate, Porcelain
China, 1426-1435 CE
