The Enrico di Borbone collection includes many Ming “blue and white” everyday porcelain items, such as vases, dishes, bottles and snuff boxes. During the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Chinese potters used Persian cobalt mixed with the local variety to obtain a unique shade of blue. Towards the end of the dynasty, the production of “blue and white” porcelain intensified due to a growth in exports, to the extent that such items are found in Iran, Turkey, Indonesia, Japan and Europe. Chinese pottery is known primarily for the use of porcelain which was first produced there. This material is made from kaolin and feldspar, baked at temperatures between 1300 °C and 1400 °C. The Enrico di Borbone collection includes many Ming “blue and white” everyday porcelain items, such as vases, dishes, bottles and snuff boxes. During the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Chinese potters used Persian cobalt mixed with the local variety to obtain a unique shade of blue. Towards the end of the dynasty, the production of “blue and white” porcelain intensified due to a growth in exports, to such an extent that Ming porcelain is found in Iran, Turkey, Indonesia, Japan and Europe.
