A Large Swatow Slip-Decorated Blue-Ground Dish

MING DYNASTY, SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY

Details

A Large Swatow Slip-Decorated Blue-Ground Dish
Ming dynasty, second half 16th century
With deep sides, the center of the interior decorated with a flowering stalk bearing three blossoms amidst feathery leaves, below alternating foliate sprays in the well and a decorative border on the everted rim, all in white slip applied in dots, thin lines and wash on a soft blue ground which continues onto the exterior and also covers the base
15 3/8in. (39cm.) diam.
Falk Collection no. 275.

Provenance

Bluett & Sons, acting as agent for the Falks at Sotheby's London, 12 May 1970, lot 53.

Lot Essay

Wares of this type are generally known as Swatow, named after the port of Zhantou in northern Guandong province. The wares were made for export and have been found throughout Southeast Asia. It is now thought, however, that these particular slip-decorated wares with a blue or coffee-color ground were made in Fujian.
Compare the very similar bowl from the collection of Jacques Graeffe, illustrated by D. Lion-Goldsmith, Ming Porcelain, New York, 1978, p. 261, pl. 281.

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