The Fontill vase is the earliest documented piece of Chinese porcelain to have reached Europe. The Franciscan missionary monk Giovanni di Marignolli, who spent several years in China (1339-1353) is believed to have brought the vase to Prague, where he became court chaplain to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. The vase, now adorned with added silver ware, passed through various courts of Europe before in ended up in Fonthill Abbey.
Original size: 28.3cms
National Museum of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.