Dish with two unglazed carp
Date13th century
PeriodYuan dynasty (1271–1368)
CultureChinese
MediumPorcelaneous ceramic with celadon glaze, Longquan type
ClassificationCeramics
Credit LineGift of Ira and Nancy Koger, 2001
Object numberSN11122.39
During the Yuan dynasty, the Longquan kilns in southwestern Zhejiang province were a major center for the production of high-fired ceramics with celadon glazes ranging from olive to blueish-green in color. The Longquan potters developed new methods of using mold-impressed applied motifs, like the pair of fish on this dish, sometimes leaving them unglazed using a resist technique.
The fish is an auspicious symbol in Chinese art because the word for fish (yu) is a homophone for the word for abundance, while a pair of fishes swimming together suggests marital harmony.
On View
On viewLocation
DimensionsOVERALL: 1 3/4 × 7 3/4 in. (4.4 × 19.7 cm)- Center for Asian Art, 2nd floor, Chao Gallery, Case C
13th-14th Century
1279-1368
12th-13th Century
11th century
1st half of 18th century
11th-12th century
12th-13th Century
14th century
