Dish with Dragon and Phoenix
明万历五彩龙凤纹大盘
An imperial Wanli wucai ('five-colour') dish, bearing the reign mark of one of the Ming dynasty's most profligate emperors. A five-clawed dragon (the emperor) and a phoenix (the empress) circle one another in a conventional symbol of imperial harmony.
Object Facts
- Period
- Ming dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573–1620)
- Date
- late 16th – early 17th century
- Medium
- Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware)
- Dimensions
- Diam. 37.5 cm
- Held by
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, USA - Accession
- 17.118.17
Rogers Fund, 1917
Why it matters
The Wanli kilns pushed Chinese porcelain to its polychromatic peak — and then nearly bankrupted the treasury doing so. Dishes like this were used in palace banquets and sent to tributary courts as diplomatic gifts.
How it travelled
Left Beijing almost certainly via the 1860 sacking of the Summer Palace or the 1900 Boxer-era looting. Circulated through the Parisian and London markets before entering the Met via the Rogers Fund in 1917.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see Dish with Dragon and Phoenix?+
Dish with Dragon and Phoenix is held by the The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA. Accession number 17.118.17. Online catalogue record: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/42543.
When was Dish with Dragon and Phoenix created?+
Dish with Dragon and Phoenix dates to late 16th – early 17th century, during the Ming dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573–1620).
What is Dish with Dragon and Phoenix made of?+
Dish with Dragon and Phoenix is a porcelain dish executed in porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels (jingdezhen ware), measuring Diam. 37.5 cm.
How did Dish with Dragon and Phoenix end up at the The Met?+
Left Beijing almost certainly via the 1860 sacking of the Summer Palace or the 1900 Boxer-era looting. Circulated through the Parisian and London markets before entering the Met via the Rogers Fund in 1917.
Can I reuse the photograph of Dish with Dragon and Phoenix?+
Yes. The The Met has released the image under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), so it is free for any use, commercial or non-commercial, with no attribution required (though attribution is appreciated).
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