the robustly-potted swelling pear-shaped body rising from a short spreading foot to a narrow waisted neck with flaring rim, set to one side with a double-stranded strap handle with two bands of clay and to the other with a short cylindrical spout, covered overall with a creamy-white glaze suffused with a matrix of crackles and falling short of the solid foot to reveal the pinkish-white body .

Provenance: Sydney L. Moss, London (paper label to the base)

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 230

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