Blue and white porcelain plate with lotus pattern

Lotus is a common totem and mascot in Chinese traditional folk customs as they are called “gentleman in flowers ” for their rising unsullied from mud which use to describe the virtue of remaining honest in spite of general corruption.

Housed in Henan Museum,the blue and white porcelain plate with lotus pattern, was made in Xuande period of Ming Dynasty. It is 34.7 centimeters in caliber, and 6.4 centimeters in height.

 photo/Henan Museum

An elegant lotus was painted on the bottom of the plate, together with lotus leaves and other aquatic plants, tied up with ribbons.In Chinese, the characters “青莲” and “清廉” are are homophonous, which means a person to be honest and clean. The outer wall of the plate is painted with 14 flowers blossomed in different seasons, and the edge is painted with spirals patterns and curly grass patterns.

 photo/Henan Museum

The inside and outside of the plate are white glaze shimmering blue.The shape of the porcelain plate modelling is simple and elegant with fine enamel, and the painting technique of the craftsman is smart and class.It boasts a piece of boutique works of blue and white porcelain in Jingdezhen of the Xuande reign in Ming Dynasty.

 photo/Henan Museum

Ceramic is a plastic art, is man's great creation with earth and fire. Through the plate, this special carrier of civilization, we could see the rich extension of Chinese ceramic civilization, and its unique artistic achievements are still worth to be summarized and inherited.