Bowl. Porcelain decorated in underglaze blue with peony scroll design. Ming dynasty, Xuande mark and period (1426-1435). C.31-1953. Victoria & Albert Museum © V&A Images

Blue and white porcelain bowl with shallow rising sides and a low foot. Painted on the exterior with peony scrolls and a stylised lotus petal border, the interior with a stylised floral motif. Diameter: 7.78 in, Height: 2.75 in. Six character reign mark inside a double roundel on the base: 'Da Ming Xuande nian zhi' Made in the reign of the Xuande emperor of the great Ming.

A similar bowl belonging to J-P Dubosc was exhibited at the Venice exhibition in 1924 (?), Col no. 651 together with an 18th century copy. A similar (if not the same) pair are now in the museum of Far Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm.

Bibliographic References: Illustrated in Brankston, A.D. 'Early Ming wares of Jingdezhen', plate IIA 
Reproduced in Jenyns, Soame. 'Ming Pottery and Porcelain, 1953 fig. 29B 
Ayers, John. 'Far Eastern Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Msuem' monochrome plate No. 147.