185. Chinese “Ding” Bowl
Manufacturer: Craftsmen in Hebei Province, China
original price: Unknown
Current value: US $ 2.2 million *
Ding ware, also known as Ting ware or Dingyao, are Chinese porcelain bowls made in Dingzhou, Hebei, China. These bowls were produced during the Tang and Yuan dynasties. Ding bowls are made of fine china with white enamel. These ceramics were a status symbol of upper-class merchants and scholars.
Ding cymbals, like the one pictured, are important pieces of Chinese imperial history. This dish was made between 1100 and 1200. The soapstone wheel is decorated with displays of peony, prunus and chrysanthemum. The plate was gifted to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art by Nasli Heeramaneck, but similar Ding-ware can be bought and sold at private auction for millions.