A squat, broad-shouldered porcelain jar with a short upright neck. Round the body a large fish swims among lotus leaves, open lotus flowers, seed pods and water plants, all reserved in white against a ground of blue waves drawn as overlapping scales. Details are incised into the white areas: the fish's scales and fins and the veins of the leaves. The fish is shown with an open mouth and sharp teeth, an early attempt at incised design. A blue band circles the neck, and a ring of panels enclosing trefoil flower motifs runs above the foot.
The glaze is glossy and crackled. The base is flat and unglazed, showing an orange-buff body with concentric throwing rings, and there is no mark. The jar is attributed to the late Song to early Yuan period. Our guide to Yuan blue and white porcelain covers the period.
Learn more: The Yuan Dynasty
