Zhejiang province, Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279)

Finely potted, curved sides raised upon a short tapering foot, the exterior and the cover with evenly carved, overlapping lotus petals in relief. Covered overall with a rich, thick blue-green glaze, leaving only the lower portion of the foot-ring unglazed, where the biscuit has fired to a pale color

H. 3 1/2 in., D. 4 in.

Note: While dishes such as this were produced in the Longquan area in great quantity over a long period of time, they are rarely of such fine quality in terms of craftsmanship, materials and color. As Regina Krahl points out in her description of a closely related lotus dish in the Meiyintang Collection, this high quality was only achieved in the Southern Song period. Krahl refers to similar dishes and a bowl found in a hoard probably buried AD 1236-1242 at Jinyuncun, Nanqiangzhen in Sichuan province, see "Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection" Volume Three (II), (London, Paradou Writing), 2006, p.582, no. 1571.

Condition: Age-appropriate abrasion mostly to the center area of the interior.