This Ming Chinese blue and white plate with bird decoration is 8-1/2" in diameter, 1-3/4" high. It has an amusing bird painted in the center, perhaps a crane, surrounded by trees, little flying things and a ship on the left. The border is hand painted with somewhat abstract flower designs and diamond shaped lozenges. The color is deep blue on a grayish ground. The bottom of the plate or bowl has a characteristic base with messy glaze and gritty remains of sand or other grit around the rim.
The piece is heavily potted. It is a little wonky, that is to say, not perfectly level at the rim, probably a careless manufacturing flaw. The condition is very good for an antique that is about 400-500 years old, no cracks. There is a minor manufacturing flaw on the rim, visible at the upper left of the first picture, where it appears that there was a scrape in the pottery, and it was simply covered with glaze and fired. You could say that this adds to the charm. This is Swatow ware, produced in China for the Southeast Asian market during the Ming Period. It is almost like folk art pottery and an amazing survivor today.
Antique Porcelain & Pottery Antique Plates & Chargers
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