The Ming Yongle Dynasty is renowned for its exquisite blue-and-white porcelain, with several iconic artifacts representing the pinnacle of craftsmanship during this era. Among these are the blue-and-white dragon-shaped jade pot spring bottle, discovered from the Yongle stratum at the Zhushan Yuyao Plant in Jingdezhen, and the dragon-shaped blue-and-white bowl adorned with sea patterns and floral motifs. These pieces exemplify the elegance and sophistication of Ming Yongle blue-and-white porcelain.
The porcelain from this period features a delicate white body, with thin walls and graceful curves. The base design often includes an inward slope, with a broader foot wall compared to earlier periods like the Hongwu era. The feet are flat and well-proportioned. Common forms include the jade pot spring bottle, large spoons, and high-footed cups. The high-footed cup typically has a diameter of 8 cm and a height of 15 cm, while the cup’s shape varies between thick and short or thin and tall, with different styles such as convex or triangular bases.
Patterns on these pieces are usually arranged in decorative bands around the rim, near the base, and along the foot, creating a multi-layered visual effect that complements the central blue-and-white motifs. The glaze is smooth, slightly bluish, and full, giving the pieces a lustrous finish. Notably, no imperial reign marks have been found on unearthed pieces, suggesting they were likely produced for royal use or export.
Two types of cobalt blue pigments were used: one rich in iron and low in manganese, known as “Sui Mu Ma Qing,†which produces a deep, rust-like color; and another lighter and more refined, with fewer rust spots. These materials have not yet been fully analyzed. Ming Yongle blue-and-white porcelain is divided into two categories: excavated items from the Ming kiln site in Jingdezhen and heirloom pieces passed down through generations.
In the early period of the Yongle era, the designs featured peonies, clouds, lotus flowers, and plum blossoms. Large vessels such as covered jars, rhombic-mouthed plates, and round-mouthed bowls were commonly made, all with fine sand bottoms. These large-scale items were likely created for Zheng He’s maritime expeditions or for export to foreign markets.
Later, during the 17th year of the Yongle era, the five-clawed dragon motif became prominent, often accompanied by sea waves and cloud patterns. Other common motifs included dragons, phoenixes, fish, and mythical creatures, alongside floral and geometric patterns. The decoration was intricate, with detailed brushwork that included both realistic and outlined styles. The layout was balanced and elegant, with fine lines drawn in a single stroke and thicker lines sketched in a freehand style.
The porcelain body was extremely thin and white, with some pieces made from slurry of high-quality porcelain clay. The glaze was even and smooth, with a slight greenish tint. The shapes varied widely, including plum bottles, jade pot spring bottles, square-mouthed pots, flat bottles, and many others. Some bowls had a snowflake pattern inside, a feature found only in select museum collections, such as the Palace Museum in Beijing, the National Palace Museum in Taipei, and the Confucian Palace in Qufu.
These bowls were sometimes painted with golden blue-and-white patterns, and some featured the inscription “Yongle Year System†in the center. In terms of craftsmanship, the porcelain was finely made, with minimal visible tire marks. The Ming Yongle official kiln blue-and-white porcelain is characterized by its light body, white glaze, rich color, and subtle patterns, making it one of the most admired ceramic traditions in Chinese history.
Laminated Glass,,Bullet Proof Glass,Ultra Clear Laminated Glass
SHANDONG TOP LEADER GLASS CO.,LTD , https://www.topleaderglass.com