Queen Mother Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau's Qing Dynasty Yongzheng Period Blue & White Porcelain Silver Rimmed Bowl - This porcelain bowl is decorated in blue underglaze, with an elaborate scene of traveling scholars. The inside of the bowl is also decorated in blue underglaze with a pagoda on a hillside with bamboo. The bowl is finished with a silver rim on both the base and the lip, as selected vessels were finished with rims of silver as early as the Han dynasty to set them apart from the ordinary, and to make them suitable for high class clients. This also protects them from damage. The base of the plate bears a six character Qing Dynasty Yongzheng Period marking in blue underglaze in a double circle. This piece comes from the estate of a Vietnamese Royal Family (the family now lives in the United States, and wishes to remain private), and once belonged to the Queen Mother Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau (Empress Dowager Doan Huy) who kept the piece in her personal collection before it was passed down. Empress Dowager Doan Huy was the last queen of the Nguyen dynasty, and the mother of Emperor Bao Dai. Upon being named Empress Dowager, Tu Cung immersed herself in Chinese, French, and Vietnamese, learning the etiquette and protocol related to daily life in the Hue Royal court. After the fall of Nguyen Dynasty while her son Emperor Bao Dai went into exile, the Empress remained and devoted herself to preserving the former capital of Hue. She sponsored the restoration of Thai Temple and other war torn mausoleums of Nguyen royals. This is a true modern day treasure, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece of Vietnamese history. This piece has excellent investment potential, as it is thought by experts around the world and avid collectors that due to the rapid modernization of Vietnam, Vietnamese antiques will within the next ten years be more valuable than Chinese antiques. According to some of the most expert collectors in the world, what used to sell for hundreds are now selling for tens of thousands. This is a very thin piece, as was common during the early 18th century (please see photos). Measurements: 10" diameter x 6"H. This piece will be accompanied by a letter of provenance from the family.