Chinese Ming Dynasty Zhangzhou Ware (Swatow) Blue and White Phoenix Dish, c. 16th–17th Century

Story

Fired in southern China during the late Ming dynasty, this large ceramic dish was made specifically for the maritime trade routes of the Maritime Silk Road. It traveled aboard wooden junks to Japanese tea masters, who cherished its spontaneous, unpretentious beauty under the term 'Gosu-te'.

Maker / Origin

The Zhangzhou kilns operated as bustling, non-imperial folk kilns catering primarily to international trade. Unlike the rigid, perfectionist imperial kilns at Jingdezhen, Zhangzhou potters embraced free-flowing, expressive brushwork and robust potting techniques that gave each piece a distinct, energetic character.

Condition & Value

The dish displays age-appropriate wear including minor glaze rim fritting and typical firing imperfections, such as kiln sand adhering to the unglazed foot ring. A small repair or filled chip along the rim edge appears visible in close-ups; structural integrity remains solid.