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Dish

Late 11th-early 12th century

China, Shaanxi Province

Stoneware with carved and combed design under glaze (Yaozhou ware)

H. 1 1/2 x Diam. 7 in. (3.8 x 17.8 cm)

Asia Society, New York: Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, 1979.132

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Yaozhou wares are among the most elegant and widespread of the famous Chinese green wares, often classified in the west as "celadons." The lush peony carved into the bottom of the interior of this small Yaozhou dish is typical of the bold decoration found on wares of this type; the petals and flowers of the peony are so deeply carved that the glaze pools into the recesses, deepening its tone and making the design more prominent. 13th-century Chinese records indicate that Yaozhou wares were seen as crude and were used by restaurants because of their durability; they are generally believed to have been used popularly rather than at the court.