Carved red lacquer saucer with dragon amid clouds

Manager ID

324

Title

Carved red lacquer saucer with dragon amid clouds Ming dynasty, early Wanli mark and period (1573-1580).

Short title

Carved red lacquer saucer with dragon amid clouds

Record number

BATEA : 317

Simple name

dish

Classified name

lacquer; dish; Ming; Wanli; dragon; animal; China; red; carved; pearl; clouds; imperial; period mark;

Description

Description part summary

A cirsular carved red lacquer saucer dish decorated in its central medallion with a five-clawed dragon amid clouds chasing a flaming pearl against a stylised wave background. The border and exterior are decorated with a band of continuous peony scrolls and the base has a 6 character Wanli mark infilled with gold in one line straight down the middle of the centre of the base.

Description material

lacquer

Description condition

some lacquer loss on the base and the 5th claw on all feet removed and several repairs evident.

Description Colour

Aspect	Colour

body	red
decoration

Description length

Description height

Description diameter

15.5cm

Description width

Description depth

Description inscription

6 character Wanli mark inscribed vertically on the reverse in a straight line down the centre, which is infilled in gold. The stylised wave background of the design and the vertical central placing of the mark, both common in the earlier reign of Jiajing, are very unusual in the Wanli period, when the mark was usually inscribed in an arc near the footrim, and must indicate a date for this piece very early in the reign.

Description notes

Gallery location

Gallery 2

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