A PALE STRAW-GLAZED AMPHORA

Details

A PALE STRAW-GLAZED AMPHORA
TANG DYNASTY

Of oviform shape with waisted ribbed neck and cup-shaped mouth, two dragon handles rising from the shoulders, their mouths biting the rim, with two small flowerhead medallions applied to the mouth exterior and two to the base of the handles dividing larger scrolling floral appliques at the shoulder, the slightly greenish glaze stopping irregularly at about three inches above the flat foot, glaze flakes to handles, some glaze degradation--13in. (33cm.) high

Lot Essay

For two similar examples see Mayuyama Seventy Years, vol. 1, 1976, pl. 214 and W.B. Honey, The Ceramic Art Of China, pl. 21. For others see the 'Loyang style' amphora in the Royal Ontario Museum, illustrated by Y. Mino in Pre-Sung Dynasty Chinese Stonewares, Toronto, 1974, no. 19, p. 32; and another included in the exhibition, Chinese Art from the Newark Museum, 1980, Catalogue no. 9 and illustrated on p. 27