No . 130 The Trusty Servant
Dynasty ( 1279-1368 ). The example in the du Boulay collection is one of the earliest known pieces of Chinese blue and white porcelain , probably dating from 1330-1340 .
In the 16 th and 17 th centuries , Chinese blue and white became a global commodity and large quantities of porcelain were manufactured specifically for export . These export wares were not previously well represented at Winchester , and the addition of the du Boulay collection transforms the College ’ s holdings in this area . The most unusual of the export pieces is a chamber pot dating from the 1630s-40s , which is perhaps the earliest surviving Chinese example of this European shape . A more typical piece is an oval basket and stand , from a service commissioned by John Canning ( d . 1803 ), an East India Company Captain , to celebrate his marriage . When Canning died on his return to
Bowl-form pouring vessel , Yuan dynasty , 14th century
England , the service was inherited by his sister and passed by descent into the du Boulay family .
Even before they have gone on display , the new pieces have been used in teaching . A VI Bk div learning about Chinese trade in the 18 th century were able to compare export wares with those produced for the domestic market . A Qingbai bowl from the 12 th century and a Delft bottle vase from the 17 th century are set to feature in an exhibition on the Age of Exploration being curated by an A-level History set . Study of the Song-dynasty ceramics will form part of the future curriculum for MP Div .
We look forward to welcoming visitors back into Treasury in 2021 to see our new acquisitions . Readers of the Trusty Servant may also be interested to know that two pieces from Anthony ’ s collection will be included in a major exhibition to mark the centenary of the Oriental Ceramic Society , alongside three other pieces from Winchester ’ s collection . The exhibition will be held in the Brunei Gallery at SOAS , from 14 th October to 11 th December 2021 .
Ding ware bowl , Song dynasty , 11th century
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