A Pair of Turquoise-Glazed Dishes with Mythical Creatures

China, Qing Dynsaty (1644-1911)

These unusual dishes are finely moulded in biscuit porcelain and covered in a vivid turquoise glaze, which pools richly within the engraved decoration. Each dish is centred with a dynamic mythical creature, whose sinuous body emerges against a stylized background. The unctuous glaze, characteristic of Qing biscuit wares, enhances both the clarity of the modelling and the brilliance of the surface. 

Turquoise-glazed biscuit wares occupy a distinctive place within Chinese ceramics, where the absence of a final glaze layer allows for sharper definition and a pleasing tactile quality. The choice of mythical beasts, likely dragons, reflects a long tradition of symbolic decoration. Such imagery, rendered with energy and confidence, would have carried connotations of authority and good fortune, giving these dishes decorative and cultural significance.

Both striking and unusual, this pair demonstrates the Qing dynasty’s continued innovation within established ceramic traditions. Their combination of bold colour, decorative style, and symbolic imagery gives them a commanding presence, while their rarity and individuality mark them as compelling examples of this distinctive ceramic type.