The Ming Dynasty was an imperial dynasty in China from 1368 until 1644, following the Yuan Dynasty. It was founded by the Hongwu Emperor after a period of unrest in which there were several rebel factions vying for power. Hongwu introduced a building programme, including defensive walls, palaces, and government buildings, and strengthened the military. During the Ming Dynasty, the country was highly organised under a provincial administration system. Many art forms flourished, including literature, painting, poetry, music, and opera, and the novel form became popularised.

Crystal carving also took place during the Ming Dynasty. Crystal in Chinese is called shuijing, with shui meaning ‘water’ and jing meaning ‘brilliant’ or ‘glittering’. It was also called shuiyu, meaning ‘water jade’ and at one time some believed it to be composed of water that had been frozen for so long that it had been petrified. The vocabulary used to describe crystal shows that the material was valued for its clarity and pure quality, making it a highly desirable substance out of which to create luxury objects. It was also prized for its hardness, meaning that a lot of effort was required to carve it.

This small crystal bowl rests on a round base. The outside surface is decorated with etched cross-hatched and spiral patterns, while the inside is smooth. On either side, possibly to be used as handles, are two mythical beasts. Their tails curve round either side of the bowl, and a spiral decorates each one of their limbs as well as denoting their ears. They crouch with their four paws against the sides of the bowl, allowing their faces to peer over the rim. Their eyes and snouts are intricately detailed.