Jar, Ming dynasty, 15th-16th century. Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue with flowers, floral scrolls, and pendent ornaments linked together by beaded chains. Height: 33.3cm; Diameter: 31.9cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1715-1876. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Provenance : From the Richard Collection, Iran. 

Pilgrim flask, Ming dynasty, made in Jingdezhen, 1451-1500. Porcelain painted with cobalt blue flowers and arabesques. Diameter: 20.3cm; Height: 27.3cm. Neck cut down. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1335-1876. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Provenance: From the RICHARD collection, Iran.

Hot water bowl, Ming dynasty, 1450-1500. Porcelain painted in cobalt blue with the Eight Buddhist Emblems above lotus flower. Diameter: 22.2cm; Height: 9.6cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 380-1884. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London*

There is a plug hole on the base.

Kendi with rounded octagonal body and short expanding neck, 1550-1600, Ming dynasty, Wanli period, Jingdezhen. Porcelain painted with figures of children and scrolls in cobalt blue. Diameter: 11.8cm, Height: 14.0cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1592-1876.  Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Deep bowl with bracketed rim, Ming dynasty, 1565-1610, Wanli period, Jingdezhen. Porcelain painted in cobalt blue. Diameter: 22cm, Height: 11cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 336-1884. Bought in Iran.  Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

On the outside is painted a border of flying horses above waves, below which bird-on-rock alternating with floral spray. On the inside a band of flaming wheels.

Note: A very similar bowl in the Groninger Museum, published as pl.168 in Rinaldi, Kraak Porcelain A Moment in the History of Trade.

Blue and white 'Three rams' dish, Ming dynasty, 1550-1600, Jingdezhen. Porcelain painted in underglaze blue. Diameter: 31.8cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1689-1876. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Provenance : From the RICHARD collection, Iran.

Kendi in the form of a frog, Ming dynasty, Wanli period, Jingdezhen, 1593-1611. Porcelain painted in cobalt blue. Diameter: 16.5cm; Height: 17.1cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1593-1876. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Provenance : From the RICHARD collection, Iran.

Kraak type dish exported to the Middle East, China, Jingdezhen, Ming dynasty, Wanli period, about 1600. Porcelain painted in underglaze blue, Diameter: 50.2cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1723-1876.  Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Kraak type dish painted with an assortment of objects in the centre, one of which is a scroll showing three of the eight trigrams. The border shows sunflower and miscellaneous objects within panels.

Provenance : From the RICHARD collection, Iran.

Note: In the Middle East, locally produced ceramics had a lower status than imported Chinese porcelain. Even the most impressive fritware dishes from Iran were made for use, whereas Chinese porcelain was for display. 

Double gourd vase, Ming dynasty, Wanli period, about 1600-1620. Porcelain painted in underglaze blue with flowers and domestic utensils. H. 27.9cm, Diam. 14.6cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1816-1876. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Bottle of double gourd-shape, Ming dynasty, Wanli period, late 16th-early 17th century. Porcelain, painted in underglaze blue with flowers and domestic utensils. Diameter: 15.2cm; Height: 26.6cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1573-1876. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Provenance : Bought in Iran (Persia).

Dish, Ming dynasty, 1615-1630. Porcelain painted in cobalt blue; Diam. 14.3cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 251-1884. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Dish painted with a central star-shaped panel, within which is a duck. The border consists of 8 panels enclosing sunflower alternating with unidentified floral spray.

Flask with bulbous body, long expanding neck and spout, Ming dynasty, 1630-1650. Porcelain painted in underglaze blue with flowers, insects and shells. H. 35.6cm, Diam. 15.2cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1549-1876. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Jar, Ming dynasty, 1640. Porcelain painted in underglaze blue with trees and pheasants; H. 49.5cm, Diam. 34.3cm; mounted with 19th century engraved Persian brass neck and lid. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1734&A-1876. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Bowl, China (Jingdezhen), Ming dynasty, first half of the 17th century. Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue with utensils and flowers. Diameter: 14.8cm, Height: 5cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1604-1876. Bought in Iran (Persia).  Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Kendi, Ming dynasty, first half of the 17th century. Porcelain painted in underglaze blue; H. 16.5cm, Diam. 12.7cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1574-1876. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Pear shaped bottle, Ming dynasty, first half of 17th century. Porcelain painted in underglaze blue a landscape scene; H. 5.1cm, Diam. 9.2cm. Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, 1611-1876. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.