EARLY MING DYNASTY, 15TH CENTURY

This finely carved bowl is exceptional for the beauty of its glaze and the harmonious organization of its decoration. Longquan celadons such as the present bowl were much admired both in the Ming court and abroad. This is attested by the large quantity of celadons preserved in collections such as the Topkapi Saray Museum in Istanbul and the Ardebil Collection in the Iran Bastan in Tehran. In addition, sherds excavated from the Longquan Dayao kiln site bearing official marks further emphasize their importance.