Porcelain dish, China, Ming dynasty, Yongle reign (1403-24). Diameter: 38.6 cm, Height: 7 cm. Given by Sir George Labouchere, FE.1-1972 © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2017.

Large porcelain dish, heavily potted, with unglazed flat base, rounded spreading sides rising to vertical at the rim, and bluish-grey glaze; iron impurities on the base

This large plain dish was produced at the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen in southern China during the Yongle period (1403-25). The emperor was a follower of Tibetan Buddhism, and under his reign many Buddhist temples were renovated and religious rituals performed at court.

This dish was probably used to contain fresh water on Buddhist altars. Similar dishes are known, either plain or with anhua decoration, a lightly incised design particularly popular during this period.

Note: The dish was assessed by Liu Xinyuan on 12/6/1990 and attributed to the Yongle period; there are similar dishes with anhua patterns and plain ones like the V&A example.