Longquan Celadon

Longquan celadon plate with incised grapes pattern from the Ming Dynasty

Housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing, this blue-glazed plate has interlocking bamboo stems and lingzhi mushroom pattern along the inner wall and grapes pattern in the center of the plate. On the outside of its bottom is a ring-shaped mark, indicating the holder on which it stood during the burning process. This item is big and the shape is regular, with jade-like glaze. It is a representative work of Longquan celadon wares of the early Ming Dynasty.

Although the Longquan celadon bears multiple layers of glaze, its glaze doesn’t appear heavy and indistinct, but as clear as the surface of a lake. The glaze materials which contain iron, and local special clay which is used for making the body and firewood which is used for firing, combine to give the Longquan celadon its unique charm.