Unknown Artist
Stem bowl with two dragons
- Other titles:
- Stem cup
- Location
- Lower Asian gallery
- Further information
The interior of the bowl is engraved in the white body beneath a clear glaze with dragons pursuing pearls in the clouds. On the exterior, two five-clawed dragons are engraved and enamelled in emerald green on a yellow background, pursuing flaming pearls among swollen clouds. A border of lotus panels marks the base of bowl, while a classic scroll border decorates the foot of the stem. The motif of dragons chasing pearls appeared in Chinese decorative art after the Tang and Song dynasties, as a result of Buddhist influences. In Buddhism, the dragon king uses this wish-granting pearl (cintamani) as his jewellery.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, January 2012
- Place of origin
-
China
- Period
- China: Ming dynasty 1368–1644, Zhengde 1506–1521
- Year
- 1506-1521
- Media
- Ceramic
- Medium
- porcelain with yellow and green enamel
- Dimensions
- 10.8 x 15.9cm
- Credit
- Purchased 1965
- Accession number
- EC3.1966
