Large Foliate Dish with Garden Rock and Plants
Ming dynasty (1368–1644), late 15th/early 16th century
Medium
Porcelain painted in underglaze blue
Dimensions
9.9 × 49.6 cm (3 7/8 × 19 1/2 in.); Diam.: 49.6 cm (19 1/2 in.)
Classification
dish (vessel)
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
147030
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Large Foliate Dish crafted during the Ming dynasty (136–1644) in the late 15th or 16th century, the pinnacle of Chinese porcelain artistry from Jingdezhen kilns. Measuring an impressive 49.6 in diameter, its leaf-shaped (foliate) rim and shallow form made it ideal for serving fruits or sweets in elite households, blending utility with aesthetic splendor. The underglaze blue technique— cobalt pigment is applied to the unfired clay body before a transparent glaze and high-temperature firing—produced vibrant, enduring blues that resisted fading, a hallmark innovation of Ming potters. The dish's central motif of a rugged garden rock amid lush plants evokes the refined tastes of Chinese literati culture. Scholar's rocks like these symbolized miniature landscapes, inviting contemplation of nature's harmony and the Daoist ideal of secluded gardens as earthly paradises. This design reflects the era's fascination with naturalism, bridging imperial patronage and export markets, as Ming blue-and-white wares captivated collectors from Europe to the Islamic world. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this anonymous masterpiece highlights porcelain's role as China's "white gold," revolutionizing global ceramics and enduring as a testament to technical virtuosity and poetic vision.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...