Lot 3107. A rare Yue celadon ewer, late Tang dynasty, 9th-10th century. Estimate HK$800,000 – HK$1,200,000 ($103,470 - $155,204). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016.
The ewer is finely potted with an ovoid body rising from short foot rising to a trumpet mouth, applied to one side with an octagonal tubular spout, the other side with a conjoined strap handle connecting the neck and body, covered overall with a satin-silk glaze of yellowish-olive tone. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm.) high, box
Provenance: Acquired in Japan in 1993
Notes: Ewers of this type were first made in the Yue kilns during the mid-Tang period, and functioned as wine vessels. An almost identical example is in the collection of Shanghai Museum, currently on display at the museum. Another similar Yue ewer but of similar size (14.3 cm. high) and of slightly stouter form, is in the collection of the Palace Musuem, illustrated in Zhongguo meishu quanji - taoci (zhong), Shanghai, 1988, pl. 63 (fig. 1).
fig. 1 A Yue celadon ewer, late Tang dynasty, 9th-10th century. Collection of Palace Museum, Beijing.
Christie's. CLASSICAL CHINESE ART FROM THE SUI TO THE SONG DYNASTIES, 1 June 2016, Convention Hall