Bright hues, vivid paintings in Yuan Dynasty porcelains

Editor's Note: Every week we look at a work of art or a cultural relic that puts the spotlight on China's heritage.

Of the various types of chinaware, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) blue-and-white porcelain is the rarest.

"Only about 100 pieces have been found (in China), with a large number believed to be overseas," says Ma Weidu, a renowned porcelain connoisseur and founder of Beijing's Guanfu Museum, Chaoyang district, noted for its collection of exquisite antiques and porcelains.