17-18C Antique XUANDE marked porcelain plate #5149 for sale

This piece is painted using the traditional blue and white porcelain technique of the Ming Dynasty and is a representative work of the Xuande imperial kiln. The beautiful white porcelain is delicately decorated with cobalt blue designs. The motifs include natural elements such as bamboo, pine, plum, and rocks, reflecting the artistic sensibilities and reverence for nature of that time. In Chinese traditional culture, these motifs are esteemed as symbols of longevity and prosperity. This piece harmonizes both practicality and decorative appeal.

The Xuande kiln refers to the porcelain produced during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (Emperor Xuande reign: 1426–1435), the fifth emperor of the Ming Dynasty. In China, from the Yuan to the Ming Dynasty, the popularity and technology of porcelain saw significant advancement, and after Emperor Xuande ascended to the throne, the development of porcelain became a national project. The Xuande kiln was a state-operated kiln located in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province.
It is said that the practice of marking porcelain with reign titles and other inscriptions began during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, the fifth emperor. Although porcelain had been produced in the Jingdezhen region for centuries, the inclusion of reign marks began with pieces produced during Xuanzong’s reign, making it easier to identify the period in which they were made.
Since the reign of Emperor Xuanzong was marked by stability, the quality of the porcelain produced during his time is highly regarded.
During the Qing Dynasty, particularly in the reigns of Kangxi (reign: 1661–1722), Yongzheng (reign: 1722–1735), and Qianlong (reign: 1735–1796), porcelain from the Xuande Emperor’s era in the Ming Dynasty was highly valued. As a result, many pieces bearing the inscription "Made during the Xuande period of the Great Ming" were produced during the Qing Dynasty. These pieces were made either to imitate the style and quality of the Xuande kiln or out of reverence for it. Porcelain craftsmen of the time were well aware of the renown of the Xuande period and deliberately used the inscription from that era.