Late 15th century
Height: 13.5 cm | 5.3 in
Diameter: 23.9 cm | 9.4 in
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This deep bowl flares out at the mouth and is supported on a circular, inward slanting foot. Both sides are similarly decorated with a bold design of large multi-coloured lotus flowers surrounded by scrolling leaves in dark blue enamel, with smaller lotus flowers in-between. Inside, the bottom of the well depicts a lotus pond within a circle; the outside of the base is enamelled with a single lotus flower encircled by leaves, and the foot with a repeating cloud design.
The form of the lotus flowers and the striking palette place this bowl in the latter part of the 15th century – just prior to the change in design associated with 16th century cloisonné work.
Similar examples: Chinese Cloisonné: The Pierre Uldry Collection, The Asia Society Galleries, New York, 1989 – no.33. This late 15th century dish depicts a carp swimming in a lotus pond with a wide border of multi-coloured lotus flowers. The flowers are of exactly the same form and colour variety – so too is the depiction of the lotus pond and its wirework scrolls.
Chinese and Japanese Cloisonné Enamels, by Sir Harry Garner – plate no. 31a: illustrated is a bowl of the same form – published as being early 16th century, with the text hinting that some of the main design elements are late 15th century.
