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Lot Essay
This rare ewer is modeled in the form of an official with his cap and beard highlighted in iron brown, as well as the edges of his robe and the turned-up toes of his shoes. In his hands he carefully holds the spout of the ewer. His down-cast eyes and the way in which he holds the spout are reminiscent of the way in which an official would hold a gui scepter when admitted to an audience with the emperor.
Two other white-glazed ewers of similar form have been excavated in Anhui province. A slightly taller, plain white, example was excavated in 1971 at the village of Tengyun in Huaining county, near the city of Anqing (illustrated in Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China, vol. 8, Anhui, Beijing, 2008, no. 150). On both figures the hair-pin holding the cap in place over the topknot is clearly shown, although that on the current figure is of a more elaborate design. The turned-up toes of the figure’s shoes on the excavated ewer are also shown at the base of the vessel.
Another figure-shaped ewer excavated in Anhui province in 1994 from a tomb dated to AD 1025 in Susong county, near Anqing, is also illustrated in Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China, vol. 8, Anhui, op. cit., no. 98. It is of the same size as the current ewer and also has details highlighted in iron brown. The form of this Susong ewer depicts a Daoist immortal playing a reed pipe, and the hair is tied up in a simple cloth. On this figure it is the hair below the topknot that is highlighted in iron brown, as are the edges of his robe and the toes of his shoes.
Oxford thermoluminescence test no. P114n35 is consistent with the dating of this lot.
Two other white-glazed ewers of similar form have been excavated in Anhui province. A slightly taller, plain white, example was excavated in 1971 at the village of Tengyun in Huaining county, near the city of Anqing (illustrated in Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China, vol. 8, Anhui, Beijing, 2008, no. 150). On both figures the hair-pin holding the cap in place over the topknot is clearly shown, although that on the current figure is of a more elaborate design. The turned-up toes of the figure’s shoes on the excavated ewer are also shown at the base of the vessel.
Another figure-shaped ewer excavated in Anhui province in 1994 from a tomb dated to AD 1025 in Susong county, near Anqing, is also illustrated in Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China, vol. 8, Anhui, op. cit., no. 98. It is of the same size as the current ewer and also has details highlighted in iron brown. The form of this Susong ewer depicts a Daoist immortal playing a reed pipe, and the hair is tied up in a simple cloth. On this figure it is the hair below the topknot that is highlighted in iron brown, as are the edges of his robe and the toes of his shoes.
Oxford thermoluminescence test no. P114n35 is consistent with the dating of this lot.