The Ming Yongle Dynasty is renowned for its exquisite blue-and-white porcelain, with notable artifacts including the dragon-shaped blue-and-white jade pot spring bottle discovered from the Yongle stratum at Jingdezhen’s Zhushan Yuyao Plant. Another highlight is the dragon-flowered seawater palace bowl, which exemplifies the craftsmanship of this era. These pieces reflect the artistic sophistication and technical mastery of the Ming Yongle period.
The porcelain from this time features a delicate white body, thin walls, and smooth, rounded forms. The feet are slightly sloped, with a wider base compared to earlier periods like Hongwu. The foot ends are flat, and the shapes include items such as the jade pot spring bottle, large spoons, and high-footed cups. The high-footed cups have diameters ranging from 8 cm to 15 cm, while the cups themselves come in two sizes: 13 cm and 20 cm. Decorative elements often include bands around the mouth, near the base, and along the foot, creating a layered visual effect that complements the main blue-and-white patterns.
Ming Yongle blue-and-white porcelain is characterized by its rich and vibrant color palette. The glaze is thick and glossy, giving the pieces a full, lustrous appearance. Notably, no imperial reign marks were found on excavated pieces, but some bowls feature a dragon motif within a circle, suggesting royal association. These designs were later replicated during the Xuande period, indicating their lasting influence.
Two types of cobalt were used in the production of blue-and-white porcelain: one with deep, rich color and visible "rust scars," believed to be imported materials known as "Sui Mu Ma Qing," and another with a lighter, more elegant hue, though less tested. The porcelain was divided into unearthed and hand-measured pieces, with the former coming from the Ming kiln factory site in Jingdezhen, dating back to before and after the 17th year of the Yongle period (1419).
In the early years of the Yongle period, large vessels like covered jars, round or rhombic mouth folding plates, and wide plates were crafted, featuring fine sand bottoms. These large-scale pieces were likely made for Zheng He's voyages or for export. Later, in the 17th year of the Yongle era, the five-row jade pot spring bottle emerged as a signature piece, adorned with five dragons, sea waves, and cloud motifs.
The decoration during this time was intricate and varied, featuring dragon, cloud phoenix, sea fish, and other maritime motifs. Lotus, peony, and floral patterns were also common, often accompanied by lotus petal borders, moiré patterns, and continuous motifs. Brushwork included both detailed and outlined styles, with fine lines rendered in real brushstrokes and bold lines sketched in.
The porcelain bodies were exceptionally thin and white, with some pieces made from slurry clay, resulting in a soft, even glaze with a slight greenish tinge. The bases were either glazed or left as fine sand, and the forms ranged from plum bottles and gourd-shaped flasks to square-flow pots and lotus bowls.
Inside the lotus-pool bowls, snowflake-like patterns can be found, and these rare pieces are only housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing, the National Palace Museum in Taipei, and the Confucian Palace in Qufu. Some of these bowls are painted in blue and white with golden accents, and many feature the four-character "Yongle Year System" inscription. The technology involved was advanced, with fine porcelain clay and minimal visible joint lines. Overall, Ming Yongle official kiln blue-and-white porcelain is recognized for its light body, white glaze, rich color, and refined patterns.
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