7.8 cm (height), 41.2 (rim diameter), and 17.4 cm (base diameter)
This celadon dish with a molded design features a flared rim, a curved wall, and a narrow ring foot. The rim is flat with a raised lip around the edge. The body is thick and sturdy, fully coated in a glossy, even glaze, except for a circular unglazed area on the base used for firing support. The exterior of the dish is plain without decoration, while the interior shows impressed ridge marks along the wall and a molded floral motif at the center. The Longquan kilns in Zhejiang were renowned for producing high-quality celadon ware. According to the Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty: Pottery, rules established in 1393 state the following: “When producing official ware, the design and quantity must be determined, along with calculations for labor and materials. For larger orders, artisans are dispatched to Beijing to set up kilns, while smaller orders are fulfilled by the kilns in Raozhou and Chuzhou.” This reveals that during the early Ming dynasty, Longquan kilns in Chuzhou and Jingdezhen kilns in Raozhou jointly undertook the production of official ware. The official production site for Longquan celadons during the Ming dynasty was at Fengdongyan, Dayao (in Zhejiang). Based on comparisons with excavated artifacts from the kiln site, this dish is one of the finest examples of top-quality Longquan celadon from that location.