An amber-glazed ewer and cover, Liao dynasty, 10th-11th century
Lot 1135. An amber-glazed ewer and cover, Liao dynasty, 10th-11th century; 10 7/8 in. (27.5 cm.) high. Estimate USD 12,000 - USD 18,000. Price realised USD 16,250. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017
The ewer has a rounded, lobed body rouletted with undulating bands below the canted shoulder incised with a foliate scroll, and set with a tubular spout opposite the strap handle attached to the tall, cylindrical neck, and is covered with a finely crackled glaze of yellow-amber color, while the base is covered with a green glaze. The domed cover with galleried rim and large bud finial is similarly glazed.
Provenance: J. J. Lally & Co., New York, 9 April 1999.
Peter Scheinman (1932-2017) Collection, New York.
Note: The shape of this impressive ewer was popular in north China in the late 10th and early 11th centuries, and ewers of similar form were made at a number of northern kilns. The sharp angle where the shoulder of the vessel meets the sides, and the shape of the handle both suggest that this was originally a metalwork form that was adapted for ceramics.
An amber-glazed ewer dated to the 10th century decorated with rouletted undulating lines around the body and with stamped flower-head design on the shoulder, but lacking the lobed body and with a phoenix head-shaped spout, is illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 11, Sui and T'ang Dynasties, Tokyo, 1976, p. 279, no. 261. See, also, the amber-glazed ewer dated to the late 10th-early 11th century of similar proportions and of approximately the same size, but with an undecorated rounded body, from the Falk Collection, sold at Christie's New York, 20 September 2001, lot 31.