A white-glazed ewer, Liao dynasty. Estimate 8,000 — 12,000 USD. Photo Sotheby's.

the ovoid body tapering to a tall cylindrical neck terminating in a wide, cup-shaped mouth, the shoulder set with a short faceted spout, a single incised line encircling the body, covered overall in a creamy-white glaze stopping just short of the unglazed base and foot. Height 11 1/2  in., 29.2 cm

Notes: The present ewer is of a distinctive type of northern white ware; its wide funnel-like mouth an efficient means of pouring liquid from larger container to this smaller one.  A nearly identical ewer was uncovered at the site of Liao dynasty tomb in Yanghuan county, now in the Hebei Institute of Cultural Relics and illustrated in Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China, Hebei, vol. 3, Beijing, 2008, no. 160. Another similar ewer with a horizontally ridged neck excavated at Xingzhuang, Yanxhan County, dated Five Dynasties is illustrated ibid., no. 75. A ewer of similar form but with floral carving was sold in our London rooms 11th July 1978, lot 108. A related ewer in the Shanghai museum, included in the exhibitionChogoku rekidai toji ten, Seibu Art Museum, Tokyo, 1984, no. 40.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art through the Eye of Sakamoto Gor – Ceramics, New York, 17 mars 2015, 10:00 AM