Type Name:

PORCELAIN, MING BLUE ON WHITE

Category:

PORCELAIN

Production Origin:

CHINA

Production Date Range:

1550-1644

Defining Attributes:

White, thin, highly vitreous paste, that is smooth and translucent, with the glaze well bonded to the paste.

Background glaze color has a bluish or bluish-grey tint, and the surfaces are very glossy, smooth and without visible imperfection.

Decoration is in underglaze blue painting, commonly using a bright, light cobalt blue color. Most elements are outlined in blue, with a paler blue wash filling them in.

Designs are often arranged in a central medallion, with freely arranged elements around the cavetto and rim. Motifs include floral elements, mythological creatures, figures, animals, landscape features, cross-hatching, geometric elements, and scrolls.

Vessel Forms:

BOWL
CUP
JAR
PLATE
SAUCER
VASE

Comments:

Ming porcelain is known for its soft, lustrous surfaces, and the spontaneous quality of it’s designs. For specific chronological and regional attributions, see Carswell 1985 and Kuwayama 1997

Published Definitions:

Ayers 1988, Carswell 1985, Deagan 1987, Kuwayama 1997