Bowl with Phoenix | Ming Dynasty Style | 17th/18th Century

Ming-dynasty ceramics never fail to fascinate with their generous brushstrokes – in this piece, we are truly dealing with painting, not merely decoration. The blue tendril pattern with the fantastical bird is beautifully rhythmic, with freely flowing lines tempered by stabilizing elements. The balance between painted and unpainted areas is pleasing, and it is from this that the bowl derives its powerful expressiveness.

Ceramics are often difficult to date. The plate is unsigned. An important clue to its age could be the original, specifically labeled box, which is dated 1842. This doesn't necessarily mean the plate itself dates from that period, but it is certainly no later.

The bowl has fine small cracks and one larger crack, an old minor injury on the rim and firing defects on the back, which is not unusual for Chinese bowls of this age.