ED196 A v.rare blue and white bowl of spraying flowers Hongwu period late14thCen

Description

Dimension: 20.1cmDiameter, 10.3cmHeight
Description:
Painted with a greyish faded-look cobalt blue on this rather large heavy potted bowl with motifs of chrysanthemums scroll on the internal cavetto surrounding a central double ringed peonies flowers and its spraying leaves, below the mouth rim painted with waves similarly on the external, and similar replicated chrysanthemum flowers scroll with its foliage on the external cavetto.
Overall is glazed with an opaque glaze with a tinge of light blue except for the foot rim which has remnants of light burnt orange, the glaze surface feel on the fingers is smooth and unctuous yet thick, the potting tends to be heavy on the lower or foot but thins when moving towards the mouth rim.
Emperor Hongwu was the first Ming dynasty emperor who has banned the import of Persian cobalt, and the potters has to rely on the lower quality imported cobalt left from the previously Yuan dynasty which typically gives a greyish blue tone when fired with ‘heap-and-pile’ effect where the cobalt pools. The drawing is becoming more controlled but with some signs of free spirited artists painting as well.
Provenance: Acquired from an experienced 80 year-old diver cum collector in West Java.