Sotheby’s via AP Share HARTFORD, Connecticut — A small, porcelain ... “All the characteristics and hallmarks are there that identify it as a product of the early Ming period,” McAteer ...

Ming porcelain, with its classic blue and white color scheme, became an especially popular export. China also exported silk and imported new foods, including peanuts and sweet potatoes.

Three pieces of Ming-era porcelain were snatched from the museum with a combined insurance value of 3,580,000 US dollars. The items were an early 15th century bottle with a secret pomegranate ...