The David Vases

The David Vases. Yuan Dynasty, China. 1351 C.E. White porcelain with cobalt-blue underglaze.

• These vases are among the most important examples of blue-and-white porcelain in existence, and are probably the best-known porcelain vases in the world.
• They were made for the altar of a Daoist temple; originally the vases, modeled after bronzes, had porcelain rings attached through the elephant head shaped handles.These vases were owned by Sir Percival David (1892–1964), who built the most important private collection of Chinese ceramics in the world.