Green celadon glazes, like the glaze on this dish, were a uniquely Chinese advance in the art of ceramics. They emerged following the Han period (206 BC–AD 220) and were soon in demand throughout Asia and the Middle East. This fifteenth-century dish is the earliest recorded celadon ware in the Royal Collection. It was probably bought for George IV (1762–1830) in France, where it had been luxuriously mounted in gilt bronze. The mounts are exceptionally high quality and would have enhanced the value of the precious porcelain, in keeping with contemporary taste. However, closer examination also reveals that they have been deliberately positioned to hide cracks in the porcelain on each side of the dish.