The Chinese export porcelain collection of Rafi and Mildred Mottahedeh is utterly fabulous, an artistic and cultural treasure without comparison in its field. That the story of Chinese export porcelain from the early sixteenth century could be told in terms of this single collection is some indication of its world stature. The collection also underscores the rapidly growing role of Americans in this field. Most important of all, the publication of this book enables people throughout the world to share in the beauty, enjoyment and cultural enrichment so lovingly incorporated in the Mottahedeh Collection.