Based on the size of this vessel it would seem that it should be grouped with those of duck form rather than goose form, which are larger. Although its neck is a little longer and more slender than those of the few duck-form vessels published, it is not as long as those designated of goose form

A similar vessel in the shape of a mandarin duck, excavated from a tomb at Shilicun, Xin'anxian, Henan and dated to the first half of the 8th century (approximately 25cm. long), is illustrated in Zhongguo gudaishi cunkaotolu; Sui, Tang wudai shiqi (Illustrated Reference of Ancient Chinese History; The Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties Periods), Shanghai, 1990, p. 116 and also illustrated by Watson, Tang and Liao Ceramics, New York, 1984, p. 44, pl. 23. Compare, also, the duck-form vessel of larger size (30.5cm. long) illustrated in Zhongguo taoci quanji; Tang sancai (The Great Treasury of Chinese Ceramics; Tang Three-color Ceramics), Shanghai, 1983, pl. 84

For a vessel of larger goose form (13 7/8in. long) see the example illustrated by d'Argencé, Chinese Ceramics in the Avery Brundage Collection, San Francisco, 1967, pl. XXV(B). A vessel of the same size, but with a cover in the form of a lily pad with a toad knop, was included in the exhibition, The Arts of the T'ang Dynasty, Los Angeles County Museum, January 8-February 17, 1957, Catalogue, no. 66

The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. 766m69 is consistent with the dating of this lot