Underglaze-red Bowl with Design of Interlocking Peony

To make an underglaze-red porcelain ware, the craftsman first painted the biscuit with pigment rich in copper oxides and then applied with a layer of transparent glaze before firing at high temperatures. After firing, the painted parts turn red while the unpainted parts remain white. Because the red color is beneath the glaze layer, this type of porcelain ware is referred to as “underglaze red”. Symbolizing wealth and elegance, peonies are one of the most popular traditional floral motifs. With pure and lustrous glaze, the bowl typifies the underglaze-red porcelain wares of the Hongwu reign.