Dish

Early 15th century

China, Jiangxi Province

Porcelain painted with underglaze copper red (Jingdezhen ware)

H. 3/4 x Diam. 7 1/2 in. (1.9 x 19.1 cm)

Asia Society, New York: Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, 1979.154

This small Jingdezhen ware dish illustrates the difficulties inherent in working with copper-red pigment. The dish is decorated with scrolling flowers, probably chrysanthemums, but some of the copper color, which is derived from copper oxide, fired to a dull gray. In spite of their difficulty to achieve, underglaze copper-red wares became popular and were made in some number during the reign of the first Ming emperor, Hongwu (reigned 1368 - 1398).