Large jar with a lid, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Reign of the Jiajing emperor (1522-1566), Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province. Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. H. 26 in x W. 20 in. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P99+.a-.b © 2016 Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture.

During the Mongol-ruled Yuan dynasty (1279– 1368), an artistic revolution inspired by Islamic art took place. This can be seen in the white porcelain painted with underglaze designs of deep cobalt blue, known as blue-and-white porcelain. This significant aesthetic redirection in Chinese ceramics dominated both the domestic market and ceramic trade throughout the world for centuries until modern times.

Keen to establish the legitimacy of his rule, Ming-dynasty founder Zhu Yuanzhang issued directives concerning rituals and daily life, which strictly regulated the use of the dragon and phoenix in decorating court utensils. The official Ming workshop at Jingdezhen succeeded in producing some unusually large pieces, including this jar, used in the imperial palaces to hold wine or food. This impressive work is distinguished not only by the masterful pottering, but also by the dynamic brushwork in the design of dragons flying among misty oceans.