A CHINESE LONGQUAN CELADON 'PEONY' CHARGERMing Dynasty明 龍泉青釉暗刻牡丹紋大盤The curved, petal-form sides rising to a flared, barbed rim, the centre decorated with a large peony amongst leafy stems, covered in a thick celadon glaze of olive-green tone,33.5cm diameter-PROVENANCE: Property of a French Private Collection formed in Hong Kong during the 1960’s-1980’s來源：法國私人收藏，1960-1980年代在香港組成-The Northern Song period (960–1127) saw the beginning of large-scale production of celadon wares, with over five-hundred kilns having been unearthed in the southern provinces of China. Production continued through the Yuan (1271-1368) and into the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the latter seeing a final period of high-achievement due to the kiln being used by and for the court. Ming Dynasty celadon wares were often adorned with foliate decorations that mirrored the designs used for blue and white porcelain and court lacquerwares. Production finally declined due to the increasing popularity of the aforementioned blue and white wares from Jingdezhen, and by the mid-15th century the court ceased its orders. -