Yellow porcelains, glazed in the imperial colour, had special importance at court. The earliest examples date from the Yongle (1402-1424) and Xuande (1426-1435) periods. Intact specimens of this date are extremely rare; only four unquestionably authentic pieces with a Xuande mark are known (three dishes and a bowl). While several other yellow-glazed dishes with Xuande reign marks exist, these are generally thought to be white dishes of Xuande mark and period with later added yellow enamel.

This piece is a genuine example of early 15^th-century yellow porcelain, but has been assembled from the sherds of imperfect dishes discarded at the kiln. Modern archaeological excavations have uncovered a number of yellow glazed fragments in the Xuande stratum at Jingdezhen, including a wine ewer, various bowls and dishes. Like most authentic yellow porcelains of the Xuande period, the present piece has an incised reign mark rather than one painted in underglaze blue.

 

Provenance: Chak’s Co. Ltd., Hong Kong, 2 November 1996; accepted in lieu of Inheritance tax by HM Government from the estate of Anthony du Boulay in 2024 and allocated to the Winchester College Treasury Museum.

Location: Treasury, Gallery 2