Chinese Longquan Serving Plate

A peony blooms in relief at the center, under a glaze the color of spring water.

This Longquan serving plate comes from Guangdong Province, China, is contemporary, and is porcelain. Longquan celadon, with its thick sea-green glaze, has been made in China since the Song dynasty and remains one of the most admired ceramic traditions. The broad flat center is molded with a full peony blossom and lobed leaves, the glaze pooling paler on the raised edges. A plain ring frames it. The wide cavetto is incised with fine combed lines, and the rim turns up in a smooth band. It is 3 inches deep and 23.5 in diameter.

Big enough for a banquet, calm enough for a Tuesday.