Large dish with an inscription. Stoneware, carved and with crackled celadon glaze. Longquan ware 龍泉窯. Longquan region, Zhejiang province 浙江省, 龍泉地區. Ming dynasty, AD 1400–1500. On loan from Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art. PDF 236 © Trustees of the British Museum

Height: 116 mm. Diameter: 483 mm. Longquan porcelain dish. The dish has crackled greyish green glaze. There is a peony spray in low relief in the centre, with overlapping lotus petals on the interior. There is an inscription on the base.

This large celadon dish is carved in the centre with a peony spray in low relief and with lotus petals. On the base has an apocryphal inscription in low relief 元佑年造(Yuan you nian zao ‘Made in the Yuanyou period’ [AD 1086–94]). Yuan you was the reign title for a Northern Song dynasty emperor. Also known as 宋哲宗 Song Zhesong.

Bibliographic reference: Hobson, Robert L, A Catalogue of Chinese Pottery and Porcelain in the Collection of Sir Percival David Bt., F.S.A., London, The Stourton Press, 1934

Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1997