A Chinese 17th Century Dehua / Blanc de Chine Large Bowl (Ex. Museum). Coated in a finely-crackled ivory coloured glaze apart from the large flat bi-disc foot. Diameter 20.75 cm, height 9.25 cm. 17th century (c. 1650 - 1700).

Provenance: this bowl bears a museum inventory number “B.R. 9-1944” and the remains of an old paper label stating “Chinese ...? Type - Ming AD 1368 – 1644”. This bowl was part of The Brooke Robinson Collection of Asian Art formerly housed at Dudley Museum. Brooke Robinson (1836–1911) was a British Conservative Party politician, who was MP for Dudley and held a number of public posts including that of County Coroner for Dudley. He also was an art collector and benefactor whose legacy was the Town Hall and a museum in the town of Dudley. Brooke Robinson left a sum of money as well as his collection of art, furniture, ceramics, and other items for the benefit of the town of Dudley. The money was eventually used to construct the Town Hall, a Coroner's Court and a museum. The museum, known as the Brooke Robinson Museum, opened on 18 May 1931 with, as far as we can tell, the Trustees continuing to acquire pieces to add to the collection.

Also from the collection of the late Brian Page (1938-2018), the well-known Oriental art and antiques dealer from Brighton.