Of circular form, it is carved with a six-petalled flowerhead, the underside with a five-petalled flowerhead, the sides with six applied florettes. The glaze is of a translucent olive-green colour.

In October 2011 David Priestley (Coll. 1975-1979), writing about boxes made in the Yueyao Kilns in the same period, says that about 300 bowls were made for every Yueyao box, but a much higher proportion of boxes have survived as they were much more highly esteemed. While at later dates boxes of this type were made to hold the red cinnabar paste, at this period they are called fenhe (powder) and were more likely to have contained powered medicines, spices and tea as well as face powder.

Literature: Anthony du Boulay, The Duberly Collection of Chinese Art at Winchester College (Winchester, 2019), p. 8

Provenance: Bequeathed as part of the Duberly Collection, 1978; purchased by Major Montagu and Lady Eileen Duberly from John Sparks, 3 November 1965 (£262); formerly in the collection of Miss Edna Bahr, sold Sotheby’s, London, 1 November 1965, lot 83

Location: Treasury, Gallery 2