Planter; China, Ming dynasty, 17th century

Flower pot; China, Ming dynasty, 17th century.
Enamelled ceramic.
The glaze is missing and has glaze losses.
It has a wooden base.
Measurements: 48 x 74 cm; 91 x 77 cm (stand).
Large jardinière made of blue enamelled ceramic. The piece stands out for its great expressiveness based on the finish, but also for the ornamentation on the body. The central area has a frieze marked with circles, like studs, which are arranged rhythmically, and inside these two bands simulating a handle, or knocker, there is an image of grotesque aesthetics.
The Ming dynasty is one of the longest periods in Chinese history, lasting approximately three centuries. After the Yuan period of foreign domination, the Ming period saw the re-establishment of traditional Chinese values. The seventeen emperors of this dynasty reigned in a state of relative peace and prosperity and belonged to the Han ethnic group (the majority in China), as did the civil service. The economy was transformed from an agrarian to a fully mercantile state at the end of the dynasty.