W250xL350xH80mm, Hong Kong
A large plate is perfect for dinner parties, salads, pasta, etc instantly looks mouth watering even when they are simply tossed into the container.
A press mould oval shape dish with black underglaze drawing and a top clear glaze.
Iron oxide wash on the outside of the plate.
The groggy clay body which enhance interesting texture after scrapping when the clay body is dry.
DIA150mm, China
This item selected by Furze for the Something Old Something New exhibition and is available at both Mountain Folkcraft and Soil.
There is something non-Chinese about this plate, I thought. Looking up exports chinaware, it is no where to be found. Perhaps its the shape of the plate, I thought. Then I was surprised to find out, thought not a common form, the shape has been around since the Sung dynasty. Chinaware, blue and white, a common Chinese theme of flower and bird, a form that goes back 1000 years it seems that there should be nothing none Chinese about it. On further research, it seems that the form of certain pottery and metal ware were heavily influenced by the import of Persian silverware in the Tang dynasty, the polylobed shape is one of them.
Ming dynasty pottery polylobed dish
Tang dynasty polylobed silver court wine cup, Nanjing Museum
Persian silver polylobed cup of the 11th Century
DIA100mm, China
This is four seasons floral plate is a folk’s version of the famille rose decoration. The normal examples of famille rose you see in museum and exhibitions are very delicate and refine works of art, they can be seen as an extension of Chinese painting, the decoration of this plate uses the same technique of glazing but with a bolder pattern, it is an everyday plate for the commoners. Famille rose was invented and became popular in the Qing dynasty, basing on the technique acquired from famille verte and the colour material of the color enamel from the West, a decoration of a softer and different shades is achieved. The work is made from white clay, on the biscuit a colour outline is painted, then glass whiteness (a white colour use for enamel work) is applied within the outline. Colours are then painted over the glass whiteness glazing, giving a softer colour than the famille verte decoration.
This item selected by Furze for the Something Old Something New exhibition and is available at both Mountain Folkcraft and Soil.
DIA250mm, China
The composition of this plate of the bird and the plum blossom which gave the plate its name – plum & bird plate. The theme of bird and plum tree can be found on painting, pottery, jewellery, stationary, etc. The pair sometimes are fighting for the attention of spring and sometimes delivering good news, they are often seen together. Plum tree blossoms in the spring time, a start of a new year, both a sense of joy and happiness. The bird, pica pica, is a special bird, according to the Chinese “Book of Birds” (around 500B.C.), the pica pica is capable of telling the weather – “If it sings with its head upwards it will be sunny, if it cries with its head facing down it will rain, people will be happy just listening to it sing”. Looking at the plate, it seems weather will be good tomorrow, have a nice day everyone!
Though it is not a pica pica (magpie) and it didnt sing, nevertheless its a nice clip.
Dia200mm, China
This is design of the scholar and the incense is a popular design of the De Hua pottery town, a town that has been making pottery since the Ming dynasty. Probably because it is situated close to the coast, by Qing dynasty their work are made mainly for export. The same design has also been recovered from the treasure of the Tek Sing shipwreck.
L230xW130xH40, China
This is a Four Season Floral Plate use specifically for presenting poultry dishes (roast duck in particular). The four season flowers are: Narcissus, Lotus, Chrysanthemum, Plum Blossom; they represented good fortune for every season.
Mountain Folkcraft 