Page 81 - Mounted Oriental Porcelain Getty Museum

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
used on porcelain made during the Kangxi period.1 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
C in five places2: on the rims of the upper and lower
bowls, on the straps below the handles, and on the foot.

FIG. 136

FIG. 13C

68 LIDDED BOWL