Museum: broken plate not shown on website

Officials confirm relic was precious but not the best piece of its kind

BEIJING - An ancient porcelain plate that was accidentally destroyed was an invaluable part of the Palace Museum's collection but not the best piece of its type, museum officials said on Tuesday.

Nor was it, contrary to critics' contentions, the treasure shown on the museum's website, said Feng Nai'en, a spokesman for the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City.