Lot 124. A rare green-glazed bird's head ewer, Liao dynasty (907-1125); height 6 3/4 in., 17.1 cm. Estimate 3,500 — 4,500 USD. Lot Sold 5,313 USD. photo Sotheby's 2011

the lobed globular body set below the shoulders with a short upright spout and vertically ribbed loop handle, the short narrow neck surmounted by a stylized crested bird's head with central aperture, hooked beak and protruding eyes, applied with a finely crackled, slightly degraded green glaze, together with: a green-glazed melon-shaped ewer and cover (3).

Provenance: Collection of W. W. Winkworth Esq.
Sotheby & Co. London, 12th December 1972, lot 12.

Exhibited: Mostra d'Arte Cinese, Palazzo Ducale, Venice, 1954, no. 335.

Sotheby's. Informing the Eye of the Collector: Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art from J.T. Tai & Co. 22 Mar 11. New York