Cleveland Museum of Art

Large Bowl with Molded Decoration

Date

1300s–1400s

Medium

Porcelaneous stoneware

Culture

China, Zhejiang province, Longquan kilns, Ming dynasty (1368-1644)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The lobed sides of this bowl open like a flower and rise to a solidly molded and pointed rim reminiscent of metalware. The bowl with a thick, shiny, jadelike green glaze was made by potters who mastered techniques to fire vessels of enormous sizes for the export market. Large bowls and plates were primarily shipped to the Middle East where they were used for banquets, in which food was traditionally offered in the center of a seated gathering. Longquan celadon, or greenware, was often fired in dragon kilns, a type of narrow, sloped brick tunnel that could fire up to 25,000 pieces at a time.

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