| Description |
This eight-lobed basin with a flattened rim was probably used as a wash basin which was fixed on a wooden support. A repetitive motif of a Daoist immortal and a child in overglaze polychrome enamels covers the whole interior. The rich use of red, blue, yellow and green makes the work extremely colorful and gorgeous. By contrast, the outer walls are decorated with two types of baoxianghua flowers, leaving considerable amount of white space, while the outer mouth rim bears a band of vine scrolls. In the center of the foot ring is an inscription in underglaze blue, which can be read: Da Ming Wanli nian zhi (Made in the Wanli reign of the Great Ming [dynasty]). A similar example has been excavated from a tomb of the Qing dynasty in Beijing. |
