Chenghua period (1465-1487): Simplicity and elegance
Because of the stable political situation and prosperous economy during the Emperor Chenghua's reign, the porcelain manufacturing started to revive again after the stagnation in the three former reigns. Chenghua imperial porcelains have their unique features among various kinds in the Ming Dynasty. The blue-and-white ceramics in Chenghua period mainly use domestic blue cobalt and therefore have elegant color, which is different from the bright colors in Yongle and Xuande periods and signifies the shift of style of the royal kilns in the Ming Dynasty. In this period, the technique for clashing color was greatly improved and many new patterns and designs were created, for example, mother hen and baby chicken, scholars, butterflies among flowers and grapes on the clashing-color cups, sea and legendary animals on the jar with "Tian" mark. This period boasts of many small-sized vessels, including cups, plates and jar.
Blue-and-white palace bowl with the design of playing kids, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 15.4cm; diameter of bottom 5.25cm; height 7cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white palace bowl with the design of plants, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 15.5cm; diameter of bottom 5.4cm; height 6.9cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white palace bowl with the design of plants, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 14.6cm; diameter of bottom 5.4cm; height 7cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white bowl with lotus flowers and Sanskrit scripts, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 14.35cm; diameter of bottom 6.05cm; height 7.25cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white bowl with the design of flowers, Chenghua period(1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 12.1cm; diameter of bottom 4.35cm; height 5.65cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white bowl with the design of flowers and the inscription of Xuande. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white bowl with the design of flowers, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 15.51cm; diameter of bottom 5.15cm; height 6.4cm; Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white bowl with the design of interlocking gingko leaves, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 15.2cm; diameter of bottom 5.1cm; height 6.7cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white bowl with the design of clustered flowers and fruits, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 17.1cm; diameter of bottom 7cm; height 7.8cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white bowl with the design of lions playing ball, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 17.8cm; diameter of bottom 7.3cm; height 7.5cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white bowl with the design of waves and ocean animals, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 18.5cm; diameter of bottom 7.5cm; height 8.5cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white bowl with the design of lotus flowers and water grass, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 8.9cm; diameter of bottom 3.6cm; height 4.9cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white bird feeder jar with the design of plucked flowers, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 3.9cm; diameter of belly 7.4cm; height 3.9cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white rectangular flower pot with the design of pines, bamboos and prune flowers, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Length 43.8cm; width 23.9cm; height 15.6cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white drum-like censer with interlocking eight-treasure patterns, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of belly 7.6cm; height 9cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white tripod censor with the design of clouds and cranes, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 6.5cm; height 9.3cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white plate with Sanskrit inscriptions, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 20.7cm; diameter of bottom 13cm; height 5.2cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white plate with the design of double lions playing ball, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 41.8cm; diameter of bottom 26.4cm; height 8.4cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white plate with the design of phoenix and dragon, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 23.9cm; diameter of bottom 15.2cm; height 4.5cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white plate with the design of legendary animals, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 33.2cm; diameter of bottom 21.9cm; height 6.6cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white plate with the design of dragons, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 30.6cm; diameter of bottom 22.6cm; height 6.2cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white plate with the design of iron-red waves and blue dragon, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 15.1cm; diameter of bottom 9cm; height 3.6cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color plate with the birds in lotus pond, Chenghua period (1465-1487) but an imitation of Xuande’s style. Diameter of mouth 17.1cm; diameter of bottom 10.4cm; height 3.9cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Blue-and-white long-neck vase with the design of dragons, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Height 55.8cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color covered round box with the design of flowers and birds, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 26cm; diameter of bottom 17.4cm; height 13cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color long-belly jar with the design of clouds (half finished), Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of bottom 6.5cm; height 18.3cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color cup with the design of dragons, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 5cm; diameter of bottom; height 3.5cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color cup with the design of flowers falling in streams, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 5.7cm; diameter of bottom 2.8cm; height 3cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color cup with the design of butterflies among flowers, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 9.1cm; diameter of bottom 3.3cm; height 4.9cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color cup with the design of clustered branches and birds, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 8.1cm; diameter of bottom 3cm; height 5.7cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color cup with the design of clustered fungus, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 7.2cm; diameter of bottom 3cm; height 4.1cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color cup with the design of plucked flowers and fruits, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 6.9cm; diameter of bottom 3cm; height 4.1cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color high-stemmed cup with single stand and the design of plucked grapes, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 8cm; diameter of bottom 3.5cm; height 6.8cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color high-stemmed cup with the design of interlocking lotus flowers, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 7.5cm; diameter of bottom 3.6cm; height 8.7cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color high-stemmed cup with the design of birds and trees, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 6.8cm; diameter of bottom 3.5cm; height 7.9cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color covered jar with 'Tian' mark and the design of heavenly horse, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 5.65cm; diameter of belly 11.2cm; diameter of bottom 7.45cm; height 11.75cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color covered jar with 'Tian' mark and the design of green vines and blue dragon, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 8.1cm; diameter of belly 17.2cm; diameter of bottom 11.35; height 17.45cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.
Clashing-color covered jar with 'Tian' mark and the design of ocean animals, Chenghua period (1465-1487). Diameter of mouth 6.4cm; diameter of belly 12.9cm; diameter of bottom 8.7cm; height 14.9cm. Collected by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.