A WHITE-GLAZED KUNDIKA TANG DYNASTY

the globular body supported on a spreading foot, rising to a tall waisted neck collared by a flange and surmounted by a tapering tubular mouth, set with a bulbous spout to the shoulder, covered overall in a thin opaque glaze stopping above the foot revealing the granular white body

Lam & Co. Antiquities, Hong Kong.
Ben Janssens, London.

The vessel is in good condition with the exception of a glaze line partially encircling the base of the upper section of neck, a similar line partially encircling the spout where it joins the body, and a 2mm., drilled test hole to the base. Please note the dating of this lot is consistent with its Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence test result (C112e24).
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Ewers of this type, known as kundika after the Sanskrit term for a ‘pure-water bottle’, were used in Buddhist ceremonies during the Tang dynasty and derived their shapes from metal prototypes; see a bronze example illustrated in Ancient Chinese Arts in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1989, pl. 328.

A slightly larger white-glazed kundika of similar form, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum. Ceramics, vol. 4, Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties, Beijing, 2013, pl. 183, together with a much smaller example, pl. 184; one in the Niigata Art Museum, Niigata, is published in Sekai toji zenshu/ Ceramic Art of the World, Tokyo, 1976, vol. 11, pl. 110; and a third example is illustrated in Regina Krahl, Yuegutang. Eine Berliner Sammlung Chinesischer Keramik, Berlin, 2000, pl. 85. Similar examples were also sold at auction: one in the Carl Kempe collection, was sold in these rooms, 14th May 2008, lot 206; two were sold in our New York rooms, the first, 20th November 1973, lot 151, and the second, from the collection of J. Spaulding, 23rd/24th May 1974, lot 259; and a further kundika was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 28th November 1978, lot 8.

Please note the dating of this lot is consistent with its Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence test result (C112e24).