Large Foliate Dish with Garden Rock and Plants
Ming dynasty (1368–1644), late 15th/early 16th century
Medium
Porcelain painted in underglaze blue
Dimensions
9.9 × 49.6 cm (3 7/8 × 19 1/2 in.); Diam.: 49.6 cm (19 1/2 in.)
Classification
dish (vessel)
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
147030
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Large Foliate Dish crafted during the Ming dynasty (136–1644) in the late 15th or 16th century, the pinnacle of Chinese porcelain artistry from Jingdezhen kilns. Measuring an impressive 49.6 in diameter, its leaf-shaped (foliate) rim and shallow form made it ideal for serving fruits or sweets in elite households, blending utility with aesthetic splendor. The underglaze blue technique— cobalt pigment is applied to the unfired clay body before a transparent glaze and high-temperature firing—produced vibrant, enduring blues that resisted fading, a hallmark innovation of Ming potter...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...