Fiftieth Anniversary Exhibition
4 November - 30 November, 2010
Twelve Masterpieces of Chinese Art, of Porcelain, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Stone, from the 10th century BC to the Yongzheng reign (1723-1735).
Blue and white porcelain bowl
Ming dynasty, Chenghua mark and of the period 1465-1487
This 'palace' bowl exemplifies why Chenghua porcelain is often viewed as the summit of ceramic perfection. The ware is creamy white, covered with a thin, smooth glaze that is like satin to the touch. The design is often deceptively simple, as in the present example, the brushstrokes overtly painterly. There appear to be only 8 other 'palace' bowls painted with the same flower design, inside and out, still in existence.
Diameter: 14.6cm