Art Institute of Chicago

Scalloped-Rim Dish with Confronted Phoenixes and Floral Stamen

China

Date

Yuan dynasty (1279–1368)

Medium

Longquan ware; stoneware with underglaze molded decoration and applied decoration in biscuit reserve

Culture

China

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Longquan celadons, admired for their enchanting green glaze, were extremely popular during the twelfth to fourteenth century, and were highly coveted by connoisseurs from China and overseas. During the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), craftsmen at the Longquan kiln started to use a decorative technique where molded reliefs were left unglazed to expose the color and texture of the clay body. The contrast between the unglazed decoration and the lustrous glazed surface accentuates the smoothness and shininess of the glaze, while also bringing attention to the intricate patterns on the appliqués – in the case of this object, two phoenixes elegantly encircling a jewel in the form of a floral stamen.

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