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Lot Essay
Very large Longquan celadon dishes of this type are very rarely found in archaeological sites in China itself. Longquan dishes of similar form and with incised and carved decoration were found in 1960 in tomb 6 of the Song Sheng family tombs near Nanjing. Tomb 6 belonged to Madam Ye, who died in AD 1418, and it contained three dishes (see J.M. Addis, Chinese Ceramics from Datable Tombs, Philip Wilson, London, 1978, pp. 118-20, figs. 39w-y). These dishes are usually described as large, but the largest is in fact only 34.7 cm., some 30 cm. smaller than the current example. However, a large dish of this type with peach decoration is preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing (illustrated in Longquan Qingci, Beijing, 1966, pl. 58).
Large celadon dishes were particularly admired in the Near East, where they where used at princely banquets, and examples can be seen in both the collection of the Topkapi Saray, Istanbul, and the ceramics from the Ardebil Shrine, in Iran, although the largest Longquan celadon dish of this form from Ardebil that is recorded by Pope only had a diameter of 55 cm., compared to the 63.5 cm of the current dish (see John A. Pope, Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, Philip Wilson, London, 1981, plate 123, no. 29.626). The Topkapi Saray, which houses the most numerous collection of large celadon dishes has many with a diameter over 40 cm, but relatively few over 50 cm. None of the dishes in the Topkapi collection, which are the same straight-rimmed shape as the current dish, is over 60 cm. Two similar dishes in the collection of the Topaki Saray with diameters of 58 and 59 cm, are decorated with flowering crab-apple and floral sprays (see J. Ayers and R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, vol. I, Philip Wilson, London, 1986, p. 303, no. 242). While two others with diameters of 50.5 and 52 cm. have a grape design (ibid. p. 302, no. 241).
A Longquan dish which appears to be almost identical to the current example in both size and decoration is in the British Museum, and is illustrated by J. Harrison-Hall in Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, British Museum Press, London, 2001, p. 487, no. 16:64. The British Museum dish was broken and riveted together. Although the rivets have now been replaced my modern conservation methods, the fact that the dish was mended rather than being discarded gives a clue to its value. Another of these exceptionally large dishes with decoration that is very similar to that on the current vessel is in the collection of the Idemitsu museum of Art, Tokyo and is illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemtisu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 597. The same collection has two other dishes of this type, one with peach decoration and the other undecorated (illustrated in ibid. colour pls. 153 and 156, respectively).
It is perhaps not surprising that so few of these very large dishes have survived. They would have provided an enormous challenge to the potter, firstly to handle such a massive weight of wet clay, and then to fire such a vessel successfully without major warping or breakage. Although all very large dishes would have been difficult to fire, the particular shape of the current vessel, which has no everted rim or flattened rim to give it added stability, would have made it especially vulnerable to warping. The successful firing of the current dish, therefore, is all the more remarkable. Another reason why such dishes are rare, undoubtedly relates to the difficulty of handling them. They are heavy, even before they are laden with food, and carrying them around the palace, as well as cleaning and storing them would have required extra care, and strength. As the majority would also have been transported over long distances to reach Near Eastern patrons, breakages would inevitably have occurred in transit. The successful firing of the current dish, and its survival in perfect condition to the present day, make it a very rare object as well as a magnificent one.
Large celadon dishes were particularly admired in the Near East, where they where used at princely banquets, and examples can be seen in both the collection of the Topkapi Saray, Istanbul, and the ceramics from the Ardebil Shrine, in Iran, although the largest Longquan celadon dish of this form from Ardebil that is recorded by Pope only had a diameter of 55 cm., compared to the 63.5 cm of the current dish (see John A. Pope, Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, Philip Wilson, London, 1981, plate 123, no. 29.626). The Topkapi Saray, which houses the most numerous collection of large celadon dishes has many with a diameter over 40 cm, but relatively few over 50 cm. None of the dishes in the Topkapi collection, which are the same straight-rimmed shape as the current dish, is over 60 cm. Two similar dishes in the collection of the Topaki Saray with diameters of 58 and 59 cm, are decorated with flowering crab-apple and floral sprays (see J. Ayers and R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, vol. I, Philip Wilson, London, 1986, p. 303, no. 242). While two others with diameters of 50.5 and 52 cm. have a grape design (ibid. p. 302, no. 241).
A Longquan dish which appears to be almost identical to the current example in both size and decoration is in the British Museum, and is illustrated by J. Harrison-Hall in Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, British Museum Press, London, 2001, p. 487, no. 16:64. The British Museum dish was broken and riveted together. Although the rivets have now been replaced my modern conservation methods, the fact that the dish was mended rather than being discarded gives a clue to its value. Another of these exceptionally large dishes with decoration that is very similar to that on the current vessel is in the collection of the Idemitsu museum of Art, Tokyo and is illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemtisu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 597. The same collection has two other dishes of this type, one with peach decoration and the other undecorated (illustrated in ibid. colour pls. 153 and 156, respectively).
It is perhaps not surprising that so few of these very large dishes have survived. They would have provided an enormous challenge to the potter, firstly to handle such a massive weight of wet clay, and then to fire such a vessel successfully without major warping or breakage. Although all very large dishes would have been difficult to fire, the particular shape of the current vessel, which has no everted rim or flattened rim to give it added stability, would have made it especially vulnerable to warping. The successful firing of the current dish, therefore, is all the more remarkable. Another reason why such dishes are rare, undoubtedly relates to the difficulty of handling them. They are heavy, even before they are laden with food, and carrying them around the palace, as well as cleaning and storing them would have required extra care, and strength. As the majority would also have been transported over long distances to reach Near Eastern patrons, breakages would inevitably have occurred in transit. The successful firing of the current dish, and its survival in perfect condition to the present day, make it a very rare object as well as a magnificent one.