A Precious Gemstone-blue Glaze and Cloud-dragon Pattern Stem Bowl, Xuande Period, Ming Dynasty
h 11.2 cm

This stem bowl has a flared rim and a deep belly. The stem is hollow and cylindrical, tapering downward with a slightly flared foot. The base of the foot is unglazed, exposing the bare clay, while the interior of the stem is fully coated with bluish-white glaze. The height of the bowl and the stem are roughly proportional. Inside the bowl, below the rim on the inner wall, two sets of double-circle string patterns are adorned, symbolizing the eternal stability of the nation. Within the double-circle string pattern at the center of the bowl, the inscription "Made in the Xuande era of the Great Ming" is written in underglaze blue. The interior of the bowl is entirely glazed in bluish-white.

The exterior of the bowl is entirely coated with precious sapphire-blue glaze, which is lustrous and translucent. The outer surface is decorated with underglaze-painted cloud and dragon patterns. The images of the twin dragons are fierce and vivid: the dragon heads are raised high, their five claws sharp, their scales full and raised, and their manes flowing powerfully as they weave through rising clouds. The sapphire-blue glaze and the lively cloud-dragon motifs complement each other, giving the vessel a strong three-dimensional effect, as if the dragons are about to soar out of the surface, creating an imposing atmosphere. The stem is painted with mountain patterns, symbolizing "longevity like the mountains and blessings like the sea," representing long life and enduring fortune.

Such stem bowls were mostly reserved for imperial court use, with very few surviving examples. They exhibit exquisite craftsmanship, combining historical, cultural, and artistic value, making them extremely precious.