Lot 203. A green-glazed ewer, Tang dynasty (618-907), 14.5cm., 5 3/4 in. Estimate 400 — 600 GBP. Lot sold 1,250 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.

the robustly-potted ovoid body rising from a short spreading foot to a tall narrow neck with flaring cup-shaped rim, set to one side with a strap handle and to the other with a short cylindrical spout and divided by a pair of loop handes at the shoulder, covered overall with an olive-green glaze falling neatly above the foot to reveal the reddish-brown body.

Provenance: Collection of F. Low-Beer (paper label to the base).

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 52.

Thomas Dexel, Fruhe Keramik in China, Baunschweig, 1973, pl. 80a

The World's Great Collections. Oriental Ceramics, vol. 8, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 88.

Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 2002, pl. 274.

Sotheby's. Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork, Early Gold and Silver; Early Chinese White, Green and Black Wares, London, 14 May 2008