AN EXTREMELY RARE CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' DISH.

Ming Dynasty, Jiajing period.

With a central roundel of a sinuous kui dragon among clouds, flames and waves, flanked by stylized flowers and ruyi scrolls, a geometric pattern frieze to the rim, the reverse decorated with five medallions intercalated with stylized clouds, depicting “Esfera Armilar”, one bearing IHS insignia and crown of thorns and the other with oriental landscapes, box, 30.5cm diameter. (2)

明嘉靖 青花繪龍紋盤

The present work is part of a small group of pieces that form the first commission of oriental porcelain for the Portuguese (and European) market. Characterized by the simultaneous presence of occidental and oriental motifs, the present work bears both the IHS insignia (associated with the Jesuits) and the “Esfera Armilar” Royal insignia of D.Manuel I of Portugal (1495-1521) and his son D.João III of Portugal (1521-1557).
The unreadable inscriptions crossing the Esfera Armilar in this case and the mistakes representing the Portuguese Royal Arms in other cases are a clear sign of lack of knowledge of the occidental symbols by the Chinese artists.

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