Meiping [Ch13]
Longquan,South Zhejiang Province; Ming Dynasty, 15th century
Porcelain with incised decoration under a green glaze (H. 16 cm)
The vase is of broad, slightly compressed form, incised with flower sprays under the glaze with petals above and below. It is covered [...]
Dish [Ch12]
Longquan, South Zhejiang Province; Ming Dynasty, early 15th century
Porcelain with moulded decoration under a green glaze (D. 28 cm)
Moulded with spiral fluting in two tiers from a central medallion and with flat foliate rim. It is covered in an even greyish-green [...]
Garden Seat [Ch14]
Longquan, South Zhejiang Province; Ming Dynasty, 15th century
Porcelain with moulded and pierced decoration under a green glaze (H. 42.5 cm)
The seat is of barrel shape, the sides pierced and carved with Dogs of Fo (lions), plantains and chrysanthemums, with moulded bands of [...]
Meiping [Ch28]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Yongle period (1403-1424)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (H. 24.7cm)
The baluster vase with small neck is painted with six fruiting branches of peaches, persimmon, pomegranates and lychees (or [...]
Dish [Ch214]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Xuande mark and period (1426-1435)
Porcelain with a yellow glaze, the base with a white glaze and incised six-character reign mark (D. 17.7 cm)
Yellow porcelains, glazed in the imperial colour, had special importance at court. The earliest examples date from the Yongle [...]
Serving Dish [Ch27]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Yongle period (1403-1424)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (D. 39cm)
The dish is painted in the centre with a composite floral scroll of a peony surrounded by an azalea, a rose, a lotus and a camellia [...]
Bowl [Ch29]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Xuande mark and period (1426-1435)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (D. 17.2 cm)
The bowl is painted both inside and out with scrolling lotuses or peonies, the centre of the interior with a flowerhead within a double [...]
Meiping [Ch30]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Zhengtong period (1436-1449)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (H. 33.5 cm)
This baluster vase with small neck comes from a group known as “windswept” and is loosely painted with a scholarly Immortal [...]
Pair of Vases [Ch33]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jingtai to Tianshun period (1450-1464)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (H. 17.32 cm)
These vases have fish-shaped handles, cylindrical lips, trumpet necks, slender baluster bodies and stepped hollow domed bases. The [...]
Miniature Three Piece Altar Set [Ch34]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jingtai to Tianshun period (1450-1464)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (H. 9.5 cm and 6.3 cm)
The set comprises a pair of two-handled vases and an incense burner. The cases have flattened ear-shaped handles, baluster bodies and [...]
Meiping [Ch31]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Tianshun period (1457-1464)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (H. 26.5 cm)
Though smaller than the slightly earlier Meiping (Ch30), this is similarly painted with a formal lotus garland on the shoulder, and the [...]
Brush Rest [Ch32]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, probably Chenghua period (1465-1487)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (W. 19 cm, H. 12 cm)
The brush rest is modelled as the Five Sacred Peaks and painted with a scholarly Immortal and an attendant with a stork under a pine [...]
Meiping [Ch35]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Possibly Ming Dynasty, 15th century
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (H. 15 cm)
Painted with scrolling flowering peonies below a shoulder with four shaped panels enclosing flower sprays, the lower part with three [...]
Baluster Jar [Ch15]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Hongzhi period (1488-1505)
Stoneware with coloured glazes (H. 26.5 cm)
The turquoise ground is incised and filled in white and yellow (partly burned brown) with formal lotuses, the tendrils and leaves in [...]
Dish [Ch18]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Hongzhi mark and period (1488-1505)
Porcelain with underglaze blue and overglaze yellow enamel (D. 26cm)
The centre is painted in underglaze blue with a gardenia spray, the border with single sprays of fruiting vine, pomegranates and [...]
Baluster Jar [Ch16]
Shanxi Province; Ming Dynasty, early 16th century
Earthenware with white slip and coloured glazes (H. 26 cm)
The violet blue body is moulded in high relief with the Eight Immortals in turquoise, cream, green and blue, divided by pendant jewels [...]
Pair of Saucer Dishes [Ch20]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jiajing marks and period (1522-1566)
Porcelain with overglaze yellow enamel (D. 18 cm)
The dishes are covered inside and out with even pale yellow glazes. The bases have the six-character reign marks of Jiajing in blue [...]
Ewer [Ch39]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jiajing mark and period (1522-1566)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (H. 20.2 cm)
The flattened pear-shaped ewer is painted in a brilliant Mohammedan blue with heart-shaped panels on each side, each containing two [...]
Square Tray [Ch37]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jiajing mark and period (1522-1566)
Porcelain with unerglaze blue decoration (W. 26.5 cm)
The tray is painted in a deep Mohameddan blue with two five-clawed dragons rising out of the sea, among cloud scrolls above, with [...]
Jar [Ch215]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jiajing mark and period (1522-1566)
Porcelain with incised decoration under a blue glaze, the base with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue, a later metal band to rim (D. 14 cm)
The body of this jar is incised with two phoenixes in flight among clouds, ruyi bands around the shoulder and lappet bands at the base. [...]
Saucer Dish [Ch41]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jiajing mark and period (1522-1566)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (D. 14.2 cm)
The dish is painted in a brilliant Mohammedan blue with four Immortals in a pine grove in the centre while the border has six Immortals [...]
Bowl [Ch40]
Jingdezhen, Jianxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jiajing mark and period (1522-1566)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (D. 13 cm)
The interior is painted with a dragon and a phoenix among scrolling foliage round a central medallion, also with a dragon within double [...]
Saucer Dish [Ch36]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jiajing mark and period (1522-1566)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (D. 14cm)
The dish is painted in the 15th-century style with a stylised lotus spray in the centre, the border and reverse each with similar [...]
Baluster Jar [Ch21]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jiajing period (1522-1566), mid-16th century
Porcelain with overglaze enamels (H. 18.5 cm)
This vase is of broad compressed meiping form and is confidently painted in wucai (five colours): iron-red, muddy turquoise, green and [...]
Saucer Dish [Ch42]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Longqing mark and period (1567-1572)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (D. 14 cm)
The dish is painted in brilliant Mohammedan blue with lotuses in a broad central medallion within double lines, the border plain. The [...]
Pair of Figures of Luohan [Ch83]
Ming Dynasty, Wanli Period (1583-1620), inscribed with the cyclical date for 1577
Earthenware with coloured glazes (H. 46 cm)
One of these figures is seated cross-legged in dhyana mudra (a pose during meditation), with biscuit head, and yellow robes with [...]
Figure of the Immortal Wengchang Dijun [Ch85]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, second half of the 16th century
Earthenware with coloured glazes (H. 21.5 cm)
The figure is seated on a throne with rectangular back and base, covered in turquoise glaze with aubergine lower part to the back, his [...]
Rectangular Box and Cover [Ch44]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1620)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (16 cm x 13 cm)
This box is painted in deep purplish blue with an Immortal and two attendants in a pine grove on the top. The border to the cover and [...]
Hexagonal Ewer [Ch49]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Wanli period (1573-1620), with 17th-century North European ormolu gadrooned foot, gilt-metal cover and chain
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (H. 33.5 cm)
This ewer is of slender hexagonal pear-shape, based on an Islamic metalwork original. It has a scroll-shaped handle and spout which are [...]
Bowl [Ch17]
Shanxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Wanli period (1573-1620)
Earthenware with coloured glazes (D. 22 cm)
The bowl is decorated with three peony sprays in cream, with turquoise and blue foliage and stalks on a purple ground, with thickened [...]
Saucer Dish [Ch51]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jiajing mark and period (1522-1566)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (D. 14 cm)
The dish is of flat form with slightly domed base and narrow foot rim. It is painted in the centre with two ducks swimming, two more [...]
Brush Rest [Ch47]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1620)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (W. 15 cm)
This crescent-shaped rest is moulded in the form of a three-peaked mountain, each peak encircled by a dragon’s sinewy and [...]
Bowl [Ch45]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1620)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (D. 14.5 cm)
The bowl has a slighted everted lip and small foot rim. It is painted round the exterior in a clear dark blue with two five-clawed [...]
Pear-Shaped Ewer [Ch237]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1620)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (H. 12.5 cm)
Painted with lotus flowers and leafy tendrils above a ruyi-scroll band, the flame-decorated spout issuing from an ogee panel on the [...]
Bowl [Ch22]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1620)
Porcelain with overglaze enamels (D. 15.2 cm)
This has a green ground reserved with two aubergine five-clawed dragons pursuing flaming pearls among cloud scrolls, the ground of a [...]
Fan-Shaped Box and Cover [Ch43]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1620)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (H. 7 cm, W. 9.5 cm)
This box is painted in a deep blue with pairs of five-clawed dragons among lingzhi (fungus) and foliage, each pair pursuing a sacred [...]
Bowl [Ch38]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Jiajing mark and period (1522-1566)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (D. 15 cm)
The shape of this bowl is known as mantou xin. It is shallow with a pronounced convex centre painted with a dragon medallion. The well [...]
Shallow Wine Cup [Ch46]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1620)
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (D. 9 cm)
This cup is painted in an unusual pale silvery blue with a scholarly Immortal, probably Li Bai, seated on a cliff by a waterfall [...]
Beaker [Ch23]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1620)
Porcelain with underglaze blue and overglaze enamels (H. 25 cm)
This beaker is of compressed zun vessel form, the central panel, with canted corners, is painted with Immortals under trees, the [...]
Bowl [Ch50]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Xuande mark but 17th century
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (D. 11 cm)
The bowl is decorated in the Chenghua “palace” bowl style, but is shallower, with a central boss painted with a floral [...]
Chamber Pot [Ch218]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, Chongzhen period, c. 1635-40
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (H. 11.5 cm)
Chamber pots were one of the first shapes made by Chinese potters specifically for export to Europe, and this piece must be among the [...]
Bowl [Ch24]
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province; Ming Dynasty, c. 1628-1644, but bearing the Jiajing mark (1522-1566)
Porcelain with yellow glaze and overglaze enamels (D. 18.5 cm)
This bowl has plain curved sides enamelled with circular panels of Dogs of Fo (lions) in brilliant turquoise and aubergine, which has [...]
Figure of the Immortal Zhongli Quan forming a Ridge Tile [Ch84]
Late Ming Dynasty or early Qing Dynasty
Earthenware with coloured glazes (H. 35 cm)
The Immortal holds a palm leaf fan. His coat has flowing sleeves and an amber glaze, his trousers being glazed in green. Literature: [...]
Incense Burner [Ch137]
Ming Dynasty, 16th/17th centry
Cloisonne enamel (L. 14 cm, H. 16.5 cm)
The incense burner is formed in two parts, the duck standing with his head raised and turned to his left. His beak, the scrolls round [...]
Luohan [Ch138]
Probably late Ming, 16th/17th century
Copper-gilt and champleve enamel (H. 15.8 cm)
The Buddhist saint is seated, his arms folded under his robes which have enamel bats among cloud scrolls in red, black, green, yellow [...]
Dish [Ch166]
Ming Dynasty, 16th century
Red lacquer (D. 18 cm)
This dish is of shaped hexagonal form and is carved with a pavilion in a landscape with a pine tree and rocks, sky and water behind. [...]
Seal Box and Cover [Ch163]
Ming Dynasty, late 15th century
Red lacquer (D. 8 cm)
The circular box is deeply carved with peony, prunus and foliage. Literature: Anthony du Boulay, The Duberly Collection of Chinese Art [...]
Seal Box and Cover [Ch164]
Ming Dynasty, 15th/16th century
Red lacquer (D. 6 cm)
The circular box is heavily carved through the cinnabar lacquer with flowering peony branches. Literature: Anthony du Boulay, The [...]
Seal Box and Cover [Ch165]
Ming Dynasty, 16th century
Red and black lacquer (D. 8.5 cm)
The circular box is deeply carved in black relief with fruiting branches on a red ground of squared spirals. These boxes when exported [...]
Seal Box and Cover [Ch167]
Ming Dynasty, 16th century
Coloured lacquer (D. 8.2 cm), in Japanese box with silk cover
The cylindrical box is inlaid in red with a phoenix flying above flowering branches, the branches with red blossoms and yellow and [...]