Plate, Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279), c. 1150. Porcelaneous stoneware with moulded decor under a celadon glaze, Yaozhou ware, 3.18 x 15.1 cm. Gift of Ruth and Bruce Dayton, 2000.150.1 © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

This small plate with impressed design at first glance appears to be a typical example of so-called northern celadon produced at the Huangluo kiln complex at Dongchuan, Yaozhou county, Shanxi province. Close examination, however, shows a design in the caveto comprised of young boys playing with dogs in a lush, garden-like setting complete with Taihu rocks. This very rare motif of children and dogs has only one recorded counterpart; a bowl of similar size in Osaka, Japan.