The Early Ming under glaze Copper Red Vase a great masterpiece of Hongwu porcelain. Every aspect of its manufacture has been successful,' says Rosemary Scott senior academic consultant at Christie's Asian departments, from being thrown on the wheel, the choice and execution of its decoration ,the application of its glaze, to its final firing.'

What makes this type of piece a gem of purest ray serene? The use of copper to produce red on high fired ceramics has from its first appearance in the Tang dynasty provided a formidable challenge to the potter. The process of producing the desired colour is so sensitive that great care has to be taken with the composition of the base glaze, the percentage of copper, the temperature and degree of reduction in the firing and the placement of vessels within the kiln. In fact research shows that the copper red decoration was discovered empirically or by accident. This vase is undoubtedly is one of the finest examples of under glaze porcelain to have been made during the Hongwu reign.