Plate with dragon, phoenix, and flower motifs

Flowers, Birds, and Landscapes of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, 1368–1911

Whereas Song-dynasty artisans emphasized realistic depictions and lifelike representations of scenes in nature, artisans during the Ming dynasty paid increasing attention to technique and symbolism. Particular flowers or combinations of birds and flowers were often chosen less for their intrinsic beauty than for their symbolic meaning. As a result, Ming and Qing artisans became successful in blending decorative motifs from multiple sources into a consistent, cohesive visual language. This language— utilizing birds, flowers, plants, and landscapes together with color symbolism—continued to evolve and expand during the Qing dynasty, reaching a pinnacle in the 1700s.

Technological developments made possible the large variety of sizes, shapes, and decorative techniques of the objects in this case. Specific developments created by Ming artisans—underglaze cobalt blue on a white background and multicolor enameling—attained their most accomplished expression during the Qing dynasty.