Provincial Blue and White Plate

c. 1850

$428

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Dimensions

H: 2.5" Dia: 10.25"

Materials

Ceramic
Glaze

Purchase Quantity

Collection #

CMRC087

Estimated Shipping

$20

This mid-19th century footed plate is decorated in the blue-and-white style with a pattern of stamped geometric and curvilinear motifs. At the center of the plate is a starburst medallion filled with floral meanders and enclosed by a border of unglazed ceramic. The sloping sides are patterned with graphic, abstract shapes, stamped with vibrant cobalt blue color against a cool white underglaze. Once used daily for tea, rice, and soup, this large provincial plate is ideal today as a serving dish or catch-all bowl.

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Blue & White Porcelain

Soon after its development in the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368 AD), blue-and-white underglaze porcelain became a favorite of the imperial court. Its broad appeal rapidly extended beyond China’s borders, becoming a lucrative export commodity highly sought after in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.

Using cobalt imported from Western Asia, ceramic artists ground the mineral into a vibrant blue pigment that was then painted directly on a porcelain base, coated with clear glaze, and fired. This underglaze technique brought with it a shift in focus from the overall shape of a vessel to the skill and artistry traceable in its painted decoration.

Transcending time and taste, blue-and-white porcelain continues to be appreciated around the world for the intricate brushwork and brilliant blue color.