Dish. Porcelain, with underglaze cobalt blue. China, Jingdezhen, Yuan dynasty, about 1350. Height: 13 cm, Diameter: 46 cm. C.10-1954 © V&A Images.

The basin is made up of a floral and leaf design. The outer has fifteen flowers painted all the way around separated by stems with budding leaves or other flowers. The outer rim separates the next rim in with a thin white border – this second inner rim has the same pattern as the outer rim but with larger motifs of the same design. Another thin white border separates the main inner circle/base of the basin which comprises of a ‘flower within a flower’ theme. There are 5 lobed panels made up of thin white borders inside which are painted more delicate leaves and small flowers. Within this design there are a further six lobed panels within which criss-cross and flame shaped designs are delicately painted. There is a central inner circle with a white rimmed border which has a floral design painted inside it.