130. Chinese “Ding” Bowl
Manufacturer: Craftsmen from Hebei Province, China
Original price: Unknown
Value today: US$ 2.2 million*
Ding pots, also known as Ting ware or Dingyao, are Chinese porcelain pots made in Dingzhou, Hebei, China. These pots were produced during the Tang and Yuan dynasties. Ding pots are made of fine porcelain with white glaze. These ceramics were a status symbol of upper-class merchants and scholars.
Ding chalices, like the one in the image, are important pieces of imperial Chinese history. This chalice was made between 1100 and 1200. The porcelain produced with the wheel is decorated with peonies, prunes and chrysanthemums. The chalice was gifted to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art by the Nasli Heeramaneck, but similar Ding chalices can be bought and sold at private auctions for millions.
