Saucer

COLLECTION NAME:

The AMICA Library

mediaCollectionId

AMICO~1~1

The AMICA Library

Collection

true

AMICA ID:

ASIA.1979.152

amicoid

ASIA.1979.152

AMICA ID

false

AMICA Library Year:

1998

aly

1998

AMICA Library Year

false

Object Type:

Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects

oty

Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects

Object Type

false

Creator Nationality:

Asian; Far East Asian; Chinese

crc

Asian; Far East Asian; Chinese

Creator Nationality

false

Creator Name-CRT:

Chinese

crt

Chinese

Creator Name-CRT

false

Title:

Saucer

otn

Saucer

Title

false

View:

Full view

rid

Full view

View

false

Creation Date:

Ming period, late 14th century

oct

Ming period, late 14th century

Creation Date

false

Creation Start Date:

1300

ocs

1300

Creation Start Date

false

Creation End Date:

1399

oce

1399

Creation End Date

false

Materials and Techniques:

Porcelain painted with underglaze copper red (Jingdezhen ware)

omd

Porcelain painted with underglaze copper red (Jingdezhen ware)

Materials and Techniques

false

Classification Term:

Ceramics

clt

Ceramics

Classification Term

false

Creation Place:

China, Jiangxi Province

ocp

China, Jiangxi Province

Creation Place

false

Dimensions:

H. 1 inch (2.5 cm); D. 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm)

met

H. 1 inch (2.5 cm); D. 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm)

Dimensions

false

AMICA Contributor:

Asia Society

oon

Asia Society

AMICA Contributor

false

Owner Location:

New York, New York, USA

oop

New York, New York, USA

Owner Location

false

ID Number:

1979.152

ooa

1979.152

ID Number

false

Credit Line:

Asia Society: The Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection

ooc

Asia Society: The Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection

Credit Line

false

Rights:

http://www.asiasociety.org

orl

<a href="http://www.asiasociety.org"target="_new">http://www.asiasociety.org</a>

Rights

false

Context:

The history of the Chinese ceramic industry from the late 13th to the early 15th century is one of constant innovation in both technology and taste. Unlike the earlier Song period, during which a wide range of types was produced in kilns throughout China, during the Yuan (1279-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties, most ceramics were produced at the Jingdezhen kiln complexes located in Jiangxi Province. Some of the earliest porcelain in the world was manufactured at this complex, the site of some of the most important technical innovations and refinements in the history of ceramics, including the perfection of the technique for painting decoration under the glaze using a blue pigment derived from cobalt (imported from Iran, where it had long been used in ceramic glazes). This technology led to the creation of China's famous blue-and-white wares.

Another innovation, seen on the lobed saucer illustrated here, was the use of underglaze red, colored using a copper oxide. The red color of the underglaze copper pigment is notoriously difficult to achieve during firing, and pieces decorated exclusively with this color are scarcer than the well-known blue-and-white examples. Nonetheless, underglaze copper-red wares became popular and were made in some number during the reign of the first Ming emperor, Hongwu (r. 1368-1398). Shards from such wares were discovered at the Hongwu palace site in Nanjing, which suggests that they were used at the court. The presence of several copper-red wares from the late 14th century in the palace museums in Beijing and Taipei also supports this presumption. In addition, some ceramics decorated with a copper-based pigment were exported; examples are known in the Philippines.

This saucer illustrates a standard use of underglaze copper red. The piece is decorated with scrolling flowers, probably chrysanthemums, but the copper pigment fired to a dull gray, evidencing the difficulties inherent in working with this color. Lobed saucers such as this one were often used to hold tripod vessels made of bronze or ceramic; it is possible that this saucer once served as a cup stand on an altar or family shrine.

cxd

The history of the Chinese ceramic industry from the late 13th to the early 15th century is one of constant innovation in both technology and taste. Unlike the earlier Song period, during which a wide range of types was produced in kilns throughout China, during the Yuan (1279-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties, most ceramics were produced at the Jingdezhen kiln complexes located in Jiangxi Province. Some of the earliest porcelain in the world was manufactured at this complex, the site of some of the most important technical innovations and refinements in the history of ceramics, including the perfection of the technique for painting decoration under the glaze using a blue pigment derived from cobalt (imported from Iran, where it had long been used in ceramic glazes). This technology led to the creation of China's famous blue-and-white wares.<P>Another innovation, seen on the lobed saucer illustrated here, was the use of underglaze red, colored using a copper oxide. The red color of the underglaze copper pigment is notoriously difficult to achieve during firing, and pieces decorated exclusively with this color are scarcer than the well-known blue-and-white examples. Nonetheless, underglaze copper-red wares became popular and were made in some number during the reign of the first Ming emperor, Hongwu (r. 1368-1398). Shards from such wares were discovered at the Hongwu palace site in Nanjing, which suggests that they were used at the court. The presence of several copper-red wares from the late 14th century in the palace museums in Beijing and Taipei also supports this presumption. In addition, some ceramics decorated with a copper-based pigment were exported; examples are known in the Philippines.</P><P>This saucer illustrates a standard use of underglaze copper red. The piece is decorated with scrolling flowers, probably chrysanthemums, but the copper pigment fired to a dull gray, evidencing the difficulties inherent in working with this color. Lobed saucers such as this one were often used to hold tripod vessels made of bronze or ceramic; it is possible that this saucer once served as a cup stand on an altar or family shrine.</P>

Context

false

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Saucer