Blue and White Fish Bowl with Shan Shui Landscape

Introduced to Europe in the fourteenth century, Chinese porcelains were regarded items of luxury—and today blue and whites are among the most sought after by connoisseurs. The paintings on this basin are consistent with the traditional shan shui pattern: a form of Chinese landscape painting that often uses delicate, feathery brushstrokes. The blue pigment is cobalt oxide, and the flowers, vines, and scrollwork are all applied by hand.