Gold Cover, Blue and White Dragon Pattern Porcelain Bowl, and Silver-gilt Tray

During the Ming dynasty, the blue-and-white porcelain kilns of the Jingdezhen Royal Factory were overseen by officials dispatched by the court. The exquisite quality of the porcelain and its rich colors make the works produced at this time and place stand out among Chinese blue-and-white porcelainware.During the reigns of Yongle and Xuande, the high-iron, low-manganese's smalt brought back by Zhang He gave the blue-and white ware from this period their sapphire blue color, brown crystal spots, and unusual beauty.

These items were part of a set.The gold cover is decorated with a cloud pattern and a golden dragon and pearl motif. An inscription on the inner surface of the cover tells us the piece was made in the second year of the Zhengtong emperor (1437) out of four liang and nine qian of gold.The inscription also tells us that the porcelain piece is a "zhong" (锺) or wine cup, not a "bowl on high foot" as previously thought.