The underglaze painted porcelains of the Ming dynasty have long been admired by connoisseurs, and provided inspiration for many imperial porcelains of the Qing dynasty. Building on the huge technological advances in underglaze decoration during the Yuan dynasty, the Ming porcelain decorators instigated new painting techniques as well as new decorative schemes. This lecture will look at the way these techniques and schemes developed as the dynasty progressed. It will examine the popularity of certain motifs in particular reigns, and will suggest reasons why some of the design changes may have occurred.

Rosemary Scott is International Academic Director of Christie's Asian Art Departments. Before joining Christie's, she was Curator of the Percival David Foundation and Head of the Museums Department of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Prior to this, she was Deputy Keeper of the Burrell Collection in Glasgow and responsible for their Oriental Art collections. Rosemary served as President of the London Oriental Ceramic Society from 2006 to 2009.