Title
Bowl with anhua decoration
Year/Period
Ming dynasty, 16th century
Region
China
Material
Dimension
Object Size: 5.2 x 9.9 x 9.9 cm
Accession No.
2017-00267
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Pamela Hickley
This bowl, which appears plain at first glance but reveals its subtle patterns on closer inspection, features an anhua 暗花 (‘hidden decoration’) design of a three-clawed dragon chasing a pearl. This is paired with a sketchy blue scroll painted around the narrow foot rim. The use of anhua decoration on porcelain is thought to have begun in the Ming dynasty during the reign of the Yongle emperor (1403–1424), and refers to delicately-incised designs that almost seem to vanish when covered with a glaze.
