Neifu meiping vase in sweet-white glaze, Ming dynasty, Yongle reign (1403-1424)

Neifu meiping vase in sweet-white glaze, Ming dynasty, Yongle reign (1403-1424)

• Image Number: K1B012840N000000000PAB
• Dynasty: Ming dynasty
• Category: Ceramics
• Function: Container
• Material: Minerals/Ceramics/
• Description:
  In the Ming Dynasty, there were twelve supervisors, four divisions and eight bureaus in the inner government, which were responsible for supplying official tools and providing various services. In addition, the Ming Dynasty inherited the system of the Yuan Dynasty. All the porcelain fired by the imperial court was first “determined by the internal government” before it was issued to the porcelain kilns for production. The mouth of this plum vase is introverted, the edge is curled, the shoulders are plump, the belly is introverted, and the feet are shallow. The embryo is thick, white glaze is applied on the surface, and dense matrix is exposed at the bottom of the circle foot. There is no ornamentation on the whole piece. Only the word “Neifu” is written on the shoulder in blue and white, indicating that it was used by the court. Osaka Toyo Ceramic Museum also collects a pair of white glazed plum vases with the inscription of “Neifu” and a blue and white cap, while Beijing Capital Museum has a plum vase with the inscription of “Neifu” and a waist, which may all be used in the early Ming Dynasty.