- 67
A GLAZED WHITE STONEWARE PHOENIX-HEAD EWER NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
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Description
- ceramic
rising from a short straight solid foot, the globular body surmounted by a double-stranded handle and curved spout, the neck ending in a freely carved phoenix head with sharp pointed beak and incised details, below a funnel opening on top of the head, covered overall in a transparent glaze tinged with a grayish-green color stopping just above the foot
Exhibited
Zhongguo taoci jingpin zhan [The Exhibition of Chinese Ceramics of Eight Dynasties], National Museum of History, Taipei, 1987, p. 29.
Condition
The tip of the spout and tip to both tails of the phoenix head have been restored. There are minor restored chips to the rim of the funnel opening.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
The head of this ewer is particularly fine and elaborately modeled. The inspiration may derive from contemporary silver wares, see the excavated phoenix-head ewer published in Song Yun: Sichuan Yao Cang Wenwu Jicui [The Charm of Song: Cultural Artefacts from Hoards in Sichuan], Beijing, 2006, p. 145.
See a similar phoenix-head ewer of slightly larger form and longer neck, published in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, vol. 3, 2006, no. 1402; and another two ewers with shorter necks, decorated bodies, and more simplified phoenix-heads also in the Meiyintang Collection, published in Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, vol. 1, 1994, nos. 323 and 324, where the author notes that these wares were mainly exported to South-east Asia. For related, undecorated phoenix-head ewers excavated in Indonesia and now in the Museum Pusat, Jakarta, see Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, Tokyo, vol. 3, 1982, nos. 67 and 68.
See a similar phoenix-head ewer of slightly larger form and longer neck, published in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, vol. 3, 2006, no. 1402; and another two ewers with shorter necks, decorated bodies, and more simplified phoenix-heads also in the Meiyintang Collection, published in Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, vol. 1, 1994, nos. 323 and 324, where the author notes that these wares were mainly exported to South-east Asia. For related, undecorated phoenix-head ewers excavated in Indonesia and now in the Museum Pusat, Jakarta, see Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, Tokyo, vol. 3, 1982, nos. 67 and 68.