Dish, Longquan-type ware. This large dish has deep, curved sides and flatterned rim. It stands on a low, broad foot ring with recessed base. The body is grey stoneware, covered with a thick, opaque, low gloss celadon glaze. An unglazed firing ring at base, which is painted with brown iron wash. This dish is decorated with ten moulded fish on rim, two large moulded fish in the centre, moulded and incised floral sprays at the cavetto.
Large dishes of this type were exported to the Middle East in large quantities from the 13th until the early 15th century. This large dish would have been used to serve food for communal eating, while jade-like celadon glaze was favoured because of a belief in its ability to detect poison.
