Bowl, white 'eggshell' porcelain with 'hidden decoration' of dragons, China, Ming dynasty, Yongle mark  in archaic characters within a circleand of the period (1403-1424). Diameter: 20 cm, Height: 6.4 cm. C.29-1953 © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2017.

Bowl of white 'eggshell porcelain, with 'hidden decoration' (anhua) painted in white slip under a lustrous glaze of creamy tone. The bowl is conical, with very slightly rounded sides and turned out lip with six-foil rim; the foot-ring is low and narrow, unglazed and trimmed flat with a knife. Painted inside at the bottom in white slip is the mark 'Yongle nian zhi' (made in the Yongle period) in archaic characters within a circle, surrounded by a wavy double line and representing a flaming pearl. Round the sides are painted two full-faced flying dragons, visible when held against the light.