Lot 1016. A sancai 'mandarin duck' ewer, Liao Dynasty (907-1125); h. 17 cm, d. 17.5 cm. Estimate: 50,000 - 70,000 HKD. Lot sold: 107,100 HKD. Photo: Sotheby's.
Note: The dating of this lot is consistent with the result of a thermoluminescence test, Oxford Authentication Ltd., sample no. C120e62.
A closely related sancai ewer, excavated at Lingyuanxian, Liaoning, is now in the Liaoning Provincial Museum and illustrated in A Selection of the Treasures of Archaeological Finds of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, 1987, no. 62. See also an example formed as two intertwined ducks illustrated in Gems of Chinese Art, Tsui Art Foundation, Hong Kong, 1992, no. 35. Another Liao sancai 'mandarin duck' ewer was sold at Christie's London, 19th June 2001, lot 21.
A rare and large sancai mandarin duck ewer, Liao Dynasty (907-1125); 9 in. (23 cm.) long. Estimate GBP 3,000 - GBP 5,000. Price realised GBP 3,760 at Christie's London, 19th June 2001, lot 21.
Modelled nesting in a lotus leaf base, the hollowed beak serving as a spout, the back with a leaf-shaped conical filling funnel and foliate handle applied to the tail tip, the body and wings moulded and incised with feather detail, glazed green, amber and white.
Note: A sancai ewer of similar form and size was excavated at Lingyuanxian, Liaoning, and is now in the Liaoning Provincial Museum and illustrated in A Selection of the Treasures of Archaeological Finds of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, 1987, no. 62.
These charming Liao ewers in bird or fish form are rare, but an example formed as two intertwined ducks is in the Tsui collection, illustrated in Gems of Chinese Art, Tsui Art Foundation, Hong Kong, 1992, no. 35, while in the same collection is another ewer of this type formed as a makara, illustrated in The Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1991, no. 24. Another ewer formed as a makara is in the Chang Foundation, illustrated in Selected Chinese Ceramics from Han to Qing Dynasties, Taipei, 1990, no. 21. A ewer of this type formed as a fish was sold a ewer of this type formed as a fish was sold at auction in New York, on 29th-30th November, 1993. Lot 20
The result of Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence analysis test, no.C101j68, is consistent with the dating of this lot.
Sotheby's. Chinese Art Including Property from the Collection of Cheng Huan, Hong Kong, 18 December 2020
