With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Chinese vase holds 300-year-old shopping list

A Chinese shopping list written 300 years ago has been found stuffed inside an 18th century vase.

The porcelain has been on display for almost 25 years at Fairfax House in York. It was uncovered while the elegant Georgian house, which is closed to the public every January, was being cleaned.

Peter Musgrove, who co-ordinates the work, said: "I took it out to clean and heard a rattling in the bottom of the vase.

"I gently poked a stick inside and drew up a crumpled up piece of rice paper with black ink Chinese writing."
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)