Page 200 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

Sir Percival collected widely, which in itself was quite rare for a porcelain

collector: they typically focused on one era of production. This variety created a

connection between the Sir Percival David Collection and earlier British collectors who

procured porcelain. While these early collectors focused on obtaining a large number of

objects that denoted a trend of ownership, the Sir Percival David Collection was far more

rd
selective. 259 As a result, the Sir Percival David Collection included ceramics from the 3

th
through 20 centuries, with each object being of superb quality. Within this large
quantity of porcelain, several strong groupings can be determined: inscribed wares from

all eras, classic Song dynasty ceramics, Ming porcelain of the 15 century, and objects
th
made for the Qing rulers. 260 These categories focus on the areas of the collection that

have been subject to the most scholarly research, which has left some portions of the

ceramics relatively unexamined. One significant category within the collection is the

th
th
wares procured from the late 19 and early 20 centuries.
Many of the ceramics that Sir Percival added to his collection held a strong

provenance. This is an element to which virtually no other collector discussed in this

study attended. Sir Percival predominately purchased wares that had associated

inscriptions. Within the collection, approximately 58% of the porcelain has an

inscription on the vessel itself. 261 These inscriptions provide a clear identification of the

date of each porcelain ware’s production. Along with these inscriptions, many of

259 For further information on the Sir Percival David Collection see Margaret Medley, Illustrated
Catalogue of Ming and Ch’ing Monochrome In the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art
(London: University of London, 1973). Additionally, see Margaret Medley and The Percival
David Foundation of Chinese Art, Illustrated Catalogue of Underglaze Blue and Copper Red
Decorated Porcelains (London: School of Oriental and African Studies, 1976).
260 Harrison-Hall, “Whose Line Is It Anyway? Marks and Inscriptions on Chinese Ceramics in the
Sir Percival David Collection,” 63.
261 Harrison-Hall, 63.

161