Dish with dragon pattern in celadon glaze, Guan ware, painted in the Precious Ceramics of Assembled Beauty. Southern Song Dynasty (12th-13th century).

The album Precious Ceramics of Assembled Beauty, probably done during the fifth decade of Qianlong’s rule (ca. 1785-1795), features ten paintings of porcelains, and each leaf is mounted with an upper and lower part. The top includes the name and illustration of a particular porcelain, while the bottom records its dimensions, glaze, form, marking, and previous commentaries. The works in these paintings, judging from the original titles, were wares from the Ding, Guan, Ge, Jun, and Longquan kilns, thereby conveying Qianlong’s taste.

Dish with dragon pattern in celadon glaze, Guan ware, Southern Song Dynasty (12th-13th century). Taiwan, National Palace Museum.

Similar than the one painted in the Precious Ceramics of Assembled Beauty.