Auction introduction: This superb blue and white ewer is absolutely unique and ranks among the most important pieces of blue and white from this seminal period in the history of Imperial porcelain, as it was made not just by the Imperial kilns, but for the personal use of the Emperor. The five-clawed dragon design is the most potent symbol of Imperial power, well-known from the following reign of Emperor Xuande and standardized throughout the rest of the Ming and Qing dynasties, but it appears for the first time during the Yongle period and this elegant ewer is among the very few examples known to be decorated with the blue-print of this important design. This masterpiece from the Yongle period has been hidden from public view since 1987, in one of the most confidential private collections since 1987, when it graced the cover of the T.Y. Chao auction catalogue.