SONG-YUAN DYNASTY (AD 960-1368)

Details

A RARE SILVER EWER AND COVER
SONG-YUAN DYNASTY (AD 960-1368)
4 ¾ in. (12.2 cm.) high; weight 192 g; fitted leather box

Provenance

Dr. Johan Carl Kempe (1884-1967) Collection, Sweden, before 1953, no. CK137.
Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork. Early Gold and Silver; Sotheby's London, 14 May 2008, lot 108.

Literature

Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, cat. p. 42, no. 137.
Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, p. 187, pl. 139.

Exhibited

Washington, D. C., Smithsonian Institution, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, 1954-55, cat. no. 137.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Rufus Chen (陳嘉安) Head of Sale, AVP, Specialist

asianartny@christies.com +1 212 636 2180

Lot Essay

The shape of this silver ewer can be seen in various ceramic wares as early as the 10th century. A stoneware ewer of this shape (18.1 cm. high), described as being of elongated melon shape, also with a curved spout and strap handle, as well as a cover, but raised on a flat base, dated 10th-12th century, in the Falk Collection, was sold at Christie's New York, 20 September 2001, lot 32. Another stoneware ewer (15 cm. high) of this shape, covered with a transparent, creamy glaze, is illustrated by Bo Gyllensvärd in Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, p. 154, pl. 493. Like the present silver ewer, it is raised on a low foot and has a cover, but the body is lobed and the diagonally set spout is short.

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