David Vases

The David Vases
Year1351
TypeBlue and white
MediumPorcelain
Dimensions63.5 cm × 20.5 cm (25.0 in × 8.1 in)
LocationBritish Museum, London

The David Vases are a pair of blue-and-white temple vases from the Yuan dynasty. The vases have been described as the "best-known porcelain vases in the world"[1] and among the most important blue-and-white Chinese porcelains.[2]

Though they are fine examples of their type, their special significance comes from the date in the inscriptions on the vases.[1] It made them the earliest-dated blue-and-white porcelains known at the time of their acquisition, although blue-and-white porcelains are likely to have been made earlier. The vases are named after Sir Percival David who collected the vases from two different sources, and form part of the collection of the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, now on display in the British Museum.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 100 objects was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Scott, Rosemary (1989). Imperial Taste: Chinese Ceramics from the Percival David Foundation. Chronicle Books. pp. 54–55. ISBN 9780877016168.