Page 81 - Mounted Oriental Porcelain, The Getty Museum
P. 81

MARKS
                                                                The  interior  of  each  bowl  is  incised  with  a  six-
                                                            character  mark  reading  "darning  Xuande  nianzhi"
                                                            ("produced  during  the  reign  of  Xuande  in  the  great
                                                            Ming  dynasty") (fig. I3F). This  is the  reign mark  of the
                                                            Ming  Xuande  emperor  (1426-35).  It  is  a  mark  often
                                                                                                        1
                                                            used on porcelain made during the Kangxi period.  The
                                                            base  of each  bowl  is painted  in  underglaze blue with  a
                                                            two-character  mark  reading  "Tsen  yu,"  which  means
                                                            "precious  jade"  (fig. 130). This  is probably  a  reference
                                                            to the intended jade green color  of the glaze.
                                                                 The gilt-bronze mounts are struck with the crowned
                                                                          2
                                                            C  in  five  places :  on  the  rims  of  the  upper  and  lower
                                                            bowls, on the straps below the handles, and on the foot.


           FIG.  136





























































            FIG. 13C



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