Jar with Dragons Pursuing Flaming Jewels

1522–66

Jar with Dragons Pursuing Flaming Jewels, 1522–66. China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen kilns, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Jiajing mark and reign (1522-66). Procelain with wucai (five color) overglaze enamel decoration; diameter: 14.7 cm (5 13/16 in.); overall: 12.9 cm (5 1/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Mrs. Severance A. Millikin 1989.291 The exterior of this jar is ornamented with two rampant five-clawed dragons boldly drawn in rouge de fer. The dragons are in pursuit of the sacred jewel amid cloud scrolls in green and yellow, flanked at the top and bottom with broad registers of cloud scrolls and gadroons. The underfoot is glazed and bears a six-character nianhao in the form of a vertical mark reading "Daming Jiajing nianzhi," enclosed in double rings in underglaze cobalt blue. The interior is glazed white porcelain.