This 'Qingbai' dish is covered in an icy, bluish-white glaze over moulded decoration and an unglazed rim. The design of two fish amongst water weeds was produced by impressing the dish onto a mould. The unglazed rim still has the remains of a metal band.During the Song dynasty (960-1279), high quality Qingbai wares were appreciated by the scholars and the literati. The icy-blue glaze was intended to emulate the qualities of silver ware.Qingbai wares were developed during the Song dynasty. Produced in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, they were exported in large quantities to Southeast Asia from the 12th century onwards although pieces such as these were usually made for the domestic market.
