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Lot Essay
This large dish has a particularly refined tianbai, 'sweet white', glaze which resembles the white jade of which the Yongle Emperor was so fond. In fact the emperor evinced a predilection for the colour white and white-glazed porcelains dominated imperial orders during his reign. This was undoubtedly in part because of the association of white with Buddhism, since the Yongle emperor was a devout Buddhist. Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism) had become popular in China under Mongol rule and the Hongwu emperor had also invited high-ranking Lamaist abbots to the Chinese capital. The Yongle Emperor was even more anxious to establish good relations with the various Lamaist sects. He invited the famous Khama-pa abbot, Halima, and also the abbot of the Sa-skya-pa to Nanjing. They came to the Ming capital in 1407 and 1413, respectively, and were received with great honour. Thereafter missions and gifts were exchanged with these and other Tibetan Lamas.
The emperor ordered significant quantities of white porcelain to be made for the ceremonies carried out during the visits of these important Tibetan abbots. Some of these porcelains remained in the Palace, while others were taken or sent to the important monasteries in Tibet as imperial gifts.
Several similar examples of a larger size are known. A very large example (40 cm. diam.) is illustrated by J.A. Pope, Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, Washington, 1956, pl. 110 (no. 29.687), with a second not illustrated (no. 29.687). A slightly larger example (33.8 cm. diam.) was included in the Min Chiu Society Exhibition, 'In Pursuit of Antiquities', Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1995-1996, Catalogue, p. 170, no. 122. Another dish of similar size (34 cm. diam.) from the F.W.J. Seovil and Edward T. Chow Collections was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 17 May 1988, lot 37.
The emperor ordered significant quantities of white porcelain to be made for the ceremonies carried out during the visits of these important Tibetan abbots. Some of these porcelains remained in the Palace, while others were taken or sent to the important monasteries in Tibet as imperial gifts.
Several similar examples of a larger size are known. A very large example (40 cm. diam.) is illustrated by J.A. Pope, Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, Washington, 1956, pl. 110 (no. 29.687), with a second not illustrated (no. 29.687). A slightly larger example (33.8 cm. diam.) was included in the Min Chiu Society Exhibition, 'In Pursuit of Antiquities', Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1995-1996, Catalogue, p. 170, no. 122. Another dish of similar size (34 cm. diam.) from the F.W.J. Seovil and Edward T. Chow Collections was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 17 May 1988, lot 37.