Page 89 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

56 C. Zhou

3.2.2 Important Types of Export Porcelain

The most important types of export ceramic collected from the Nan’ao
No. I shipwreck include plates, bowls, cups, dishes, boxes and jars (Figs. 3.5 and
3.6).
Plate is the most representative type of porcelain ware collected from the site, of
which 90% are the products of Zhangzhou kiln. The porcelain plates of Zhangzhou
kiln include two speci!cations with different calibers of mouth edge of 32 and
26 cm in diameter, the decorating patterns are chrysanthemum, lotus, peony,
graceful ladies, recluse, Kirin (!", lucky animal in ancient Chinese legend),
dragon, phoenix and Chinese characters in the centre of the plates, circling with
wave pattern out of the central pattern. Four flower sprays patterns are usual drawn
on the inner and outer belly of the plate. The rhomboid pattern or the interlocking
flowers pattern are decorated on the edge of plates. The porcelain plates from
Jingdezhen kiln are mostly folding edge with small caliber of mouth edge of 19 cm
in diameter and low in body. The decorating patterns in the center of the plates
include Dan Feng Chao Yang (&"!!, phoenix facing the sunlight), landscape
with tree, rock and rail, !sh and aquatic weed, Feng Hou Jue Lu (!!#$ bee,
monkey, magpie and deer, pronouncing similarity to the high grade of!cial position
and high income in Chinese characters as#"!#). The mouth edge are usually
decorated with treasure designs or cross stripes of brocade pattern. There are

Fig. 3.6 Jingdezhen wares from the Nan’ao No. I shipwreck. 1–3: plate, 4–6: bowl, 7: cup, 8:
saucer, 9, 10: powder box