Large Dish with Qilin

Japanese collection (Kyoto, Japan); Kaikodo (New York, NY); sold by Kaikodo (New York, NY) to the Elvehjem Museum of Art (now known as the Chazen Museum of Art).

This large, round ceramic dish features a central image of a mythical creature painted in shades of blue on a white background. The central circular medallion depicts a beast with a scaly horse-shaped body, cloven hooves, and a dragon-like head with a single horn. Surrounded by flame-like shapes, clouds, and plant motifs, the creature stands with its right foreleg raised. It is positioned in profile but turns its head to look backward toward a bushy, fanned-out tail. A narrow band of repeating scalloped shapes encircles this central scene. The wide, sloping sides of the dish display a continuous frieze of evenly spaced large, rounded floral blossoms with layered petals connected by scrolling vines and leafy tendrils. The outermost rim is detailed with a thin border of tight, spiraling scrolls. Throughout the design, the blue pigment varies from dark, saturated lines to lighter washes. The dish has a smooth, glossy finish, and the blue decoration covers the entire visible surface, including the inner and outer sides of the bowl. It is displayed upright on a dark wooden stand with curved legs.

• Asia
• Ceramics
• Alt Text Accessible

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