Blue and White Barbed-Rim Charger with Two Phoenixes, Yuan Dynasty

PP-0156

Description

A large blue and white porcelain charger with a flattened, barbed rim moulded to imitate metalwork. In the central medallion, two phoenixes circle each other among flowering branches, their scaled bodies and long, sweeping tail feathers drawn in fine detail. A scroll of lotus flowers on curling stems and leaves fills the cavetto, and the rim carries a lattice border with small florets. The blue is deep and strong, with darker spots where the cobalt gathered, a feature discussed in our guide to cobalt blue.

On the outside, a band of panels divided by groups of vertical bars encloses trefoil cloud motifs and dots. The wide base is unglazed, showing spiral throwing marks in the buff body.