This dish has three bands of designs decorated in underglaze blue from the center to the rim. The central medallion features a landscape of forests, mountains and pavilions. Surrounding it on the inner wall are six ogival medallions of coiled dragons alternated by small quatrefoil medallions with lotus sprays. On its flared rim presents repeated motifs of blooming lotus flowers and birds.Zhangzhou wares such as this were commonly known as ‘Swatow ware’ due to the erroneous belief that the ware was shipped out from the port of Zhantou (Swatow). These wares were mainly made for export to Japan and Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. Chinese ceramics were highly prized in these places and were used extensively by the nobility and the elite as status symbols.
