Lot 216. A white stoneware ewer, Tang dynasty (618-907), 14.6cm., 5 3/4 in. Estimate 600 -- 800 GBP. Lot sold 1,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.

the robustly-potted ovoid body rising from a short tapering foot to a narrow trumpet neck with widely flaring rim, set to one side with a simple strap handle and to the other with a short spout, covered overall in a white slip and an ivory-white glaze suffused with a fine crackle, the flat base unglazed to reveal the greyish-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. 235

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