15th-16th century, circular boxes, each with a flat lid, the larger two are decorated with a centered stylized floral medallion with geometric accents overlapping from the cover to the body of the box, the smaller three boxes with minimal decoration.



Largest 2 in., 3 in. diameter

Property from the Estate of Jean Underwood, sold by the Ackland Art Museum to benefit the Ruth and Sherman Lee Fund for Asian Art

The Underwood collection of Vietnamese ceramics presents a curated selection of various shapes and patterns of blue and white created during the 15th and 16th centuries. The Vietnamese ceramic workshops came to a pinnacle in the 15th century spurred by the Chinese occupation of north Vietnam and the gap left in the market from lower exports from China. The Vietnamese were able to create high quality pieces similar to the Chinese style using underglaze cobalt blue with a heaping effect but with more graceful and willowy brushstrokes over a soft white paste stoneware. The Vietnamese exported their ceramics to southeast Asia and the Philippines.

One with repaired lid; several with minor knicks and chips to rims and rims of covers, scattered firing flaws.