Antique 18th century Kangxi Period Chinese Swatow bowl

A beautiful antique 18th century Chinese Swatow bowl produced during the Kangxi period (1654 –  1722).

Swatow ware was originally named as such as it was believed to be shipped from the port of Swatow, nowadays known as Shanzhou. Nowadays it is known as Zhangzhou ware as that is its primary place of origin, as it was produced during the late Ming Dynasty to early Qing Dynasty.
Unlike other highly ornamental styles such as Imari ware or famille rose, Swatow ware was characterised with translucent blue or turquoise over glaze, and a spontaneity of pattern and expressiveness that is not usually seen in Chinese porcelain. For that reason it was highly prized in the South-east Asian markets that it was exported to, with chiefs and royalty often seen by European missionaries to be eating from them. Moreover there was a small segment of Japanese tea masters who priced Swatow ware for its embodiment of the principle of wabi: austerity, spontaneity, and apparent artlessness, such as was demonstrated by cha no yu masters such as Sen no Rikyu.

Price marked at $700 AUD.

Measurements: 8.5cm height, 17.5cm bowl diameter.

Very good antique condition overall, with loss to gilt rim, kiln grit and wear to base as pictured. Unglazed bottom of bowl as common in 18th century ceramics of this style.