Ming Chenghua Blue and White Okra Palace Bowl Replica Tea Bowl (Master Cup)

The Chenghua blue-and-white palace bowl was one of the imperial porcelains used during the Ming Chenghua period, representing a significant milestone in Chinese ceramic history. These court porcelains primarily featured blue-and-white designs with deep blue as the decorative color. While such imperial wares were relatively common at the time, they are now exceptionally rare.  

The Chenghua palace bowl embodies imperial-grade aesthetics, with its body and glaze perfectly capturing the essence of Chenghua official kilns. This okra-patterned bowl is one of the most representative works of Chenghua palace bowls. In 2013, an original piece was auctioned for HKD 141 million (only four are known to exist worldwide).  

The bowl exhibits a subtle bluish-white tone, evoking classical elegance. Fired at an extremely high temperature, it achieves a strong vitrification effect, resulting in a tight, glossy glaze that feels as smooth as silk. Under light, it appears ivory-white.  

It uses "Equal Blue" pigment, applied evenly to produce a soft grayish-blue hue characteristic of the refined blue-and-white porcelain from the late Chenghua period.  

Fired at high temperatures, the edges show slight pigment diffusion, blending with precise outlines to create an ideal ink-wash aesthetic.  

The panoramic composition features:  

- Four okras on the outer wall  

- Five okras on the inner wall  

Including fully bloomed flowers, half-opened buds, and curling leaves, arranged in an orderly yet dynamic rhythm.  

The leaves are depicted with front and back sides:  

- Front veins are outlined with double-layered cobalt  

- Edges use thick strokes with dry-brush techniques to mimic the fuzzy texture of okra leaves  

The Ming Chenghua blue-and-white okra cup has:  

- Smooth, curved walls  

- Slightly flared rim, elegant and restrained  

- Outer wall decorated with winding okra branches, soft petals stretching, and flowers in full bloom  

- Inner wall adorned with similar okra branches, yet slightly varied in posture for added charm  

-Thin, translucent body with delicate and fluid okra motifs, including inner-painted buds