Porcelain dish

This dish, made in a mold, is presented in a white and translucent shard of fine texture. It is coated with a transparent and shiny glaze of a cerulean blue, with the exception of the base.
As is often the case with ceramics, the shape here is inspired by metal. The flat marli, edged on the lip with a net in relief, is adorned with a double row of lotus petals. It articulates with the gadrooned cavetto by a right angle.
This pattern was also used by Ding kilns in northern China then dominated by the Jurchens of the Jin dynasty (1115-1234).
The decoration printed on the central medallion is a Taoist allegory of internal alchemy (neidan), a set of practices aimed at increasing longevity and achieving final deliverance. Pine, crane, turtle and peaches are classic symbols of long life.
Taoist iconography, rather rare in Jingdezhen at that time, is on the other hand very present on the reverse of contemporary bronze mirrors. It reflects the abundant vitality of this religion within the population.

Jingdezhen Plat kilns (Usage name), 1127. Cernuschi Museum, Museum of Asian Arts of the City of Paris.

Cartel:

Porcelain dish
Porcelain with qingbai (white-bluish) glaze, Jingdezhen kilns, Jingdezhen Municipality (Jiangxi), Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279), China
H.3 cm; D.20,04 cm (lip)
MC 9931

Gift of the Society of Friends of the Cernuschi Museum, 1996