Ming Dynasty Swatow Ware Porcelain Dish

Late Ming Dynasty, c. 1640 AD, Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, China

A mesmerizing large Swatow (Zhangzhou) ware porcelain dish, beautifully decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with bold, freely painted phoenix birds and floral sprays, encircled by sketchy concentric bands. The painterly execution is vigorous and spontaneous, exemplifying the dynamic brushwork typical of Swatow wares. At the center, a distinctive bisquited brown band provides contrast and textural depth. The reverse bears a concentric border adorned with small floral motifs.

Produced in the coastal kilns of Zhangzhou, particularly around Pinghe County, Swatow ware represents a distinctive body of late Ming export porcelain made primarily for the Southeast Asian trade. Important kiln sites include Da Long and Er Long in Wuzhai, and Huazai Lou in Nansheng. Archaeological evidence suggests production between c. 1575 and 1650, with peak activity around 1620.

Swatow ware is celebrated for its rustic charm and expressive spontaneity—often coarsely potted, under-fired, and bearing kiln grit on the glaze foot. These pieces were fired in dragon kilns (lung-yao) and produced in small-scale workshops, far removed from the industrial precision of Jingdezhen. Wheel-thrown or mold-formed, their decoration in underglaze blue cobalt remains one of the most evocative expressions of Ming folk artistry.

Excellent condition. Wear commensurate with age and use. Glazing defects and firing flaws. Footring has kiln grits. Size approx. 29,0cm x 29,0cm x 7,4cm.

Provenance: Finnish private collection

References and further reading:

The Ceramic Trade Across the South China Sea c. AD 1350-1650, Barbara Harrisson, Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 76, No. 1, 2003, pp. 99-114.

Swatow, Barbara Harrisson, Publisher: Museum het Princessehof, Leeuwarden, 1979.

The Wares of the Transitional Period between the Ming and the Ch'Ing 1620-1683, Soame Jenyns, Archives of the Chinese Art Society of America, Published By: Duke University Press, Vol. 9, 1955, pp. 20-42.

Zhangzhou (Swatow) Ceramics. Sixteenth to Seventeenth Centuries Found In Indonesia, Sumarah Adhyatman, Publisher: The Ceramic Society of Indonesia, 1999.