The Guilin Museum plans to show its most treasured porcelain relics, which date back to 600 years ago, from May 16 to June 16 in the National Museum of Chinese History in Beijing.

The Guilin Museum, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, will bring out 99 relics from its huge reserve of plum vases from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), which have been produced since the Tang Dynasty (618-907) for use as vessels for wine, household decorations, and as articles to be buried in tombs.

Though shapes varied in different historic periods, plum vases share the common features of short necks, small openings, full shoulders, round bellies, narrow waists and long shanks, said Geng Baochang, a porcelain specialist working in the Palace Museum.

"The plum vases show top expertise for making porcelain items," Geng said.

Ge Hua, curator of Guilin Museum, said that visitors to the exhibition can learn the background of the development of plum vases. They can also view the treasured relics at close proximity.

In addition, exhibition organizers are scheduled to carry out an academic symposium on this particular porcelain on May 17.

(People’s Daily 05/16/2001)