Chinese Ming dynasty Longquan celadon dish
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Department of the University of Pretoria Art
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This sturdy round rather heavily potted Longquan celadon stoneware dish with lobed sides and celadon glaze is decorated inside in the centre with an impressed floral design surrounded by fluted sides under a thick olive-green celadon glaze. The base is sunken, partly glazed and unmarked. The body is burnt brown in the unglazed ring inside the recessed base. This type of Longquan celadons have been found at many ancient African sites in the interior of sub-Saharan Africa, including Mapungubwe. They were brought there by Arab traders, who traded directly with China at the time, and believed that if poisonous food or drink was placed in a celadon container, the glaze would change colour.
Keywords
sturdy round