ED041 A rare blue and white double gourd phoenix ewer Yuan/Early Ming 14thCent

Description

Dimension:
18.0cm High 12.2cm length (Handle to Spout)
Description:
A rare blue and white ewer of double gourd with original pointed finial round cover depicting two phoenixes among foliage with wings spread and lotus pond scene on the upper gourd portion in between two double lines with additional two horizontal bands of key fret and lozenge diaper designs.
The S-shaped spout of the ewer rises up from the lower gourd in a horizontal fashion with mouth pointing forward and painted with a trailing ball of burning pearl in the front. The handle is similarly S-shaped rises from the lower gourd portion and ends towards the middle of the upper gourd portion with a center band of stylized scroll separated with two indent grooves with two blue cobalt blue lines running parallel at the sides planted with a loop at the top of curved handle. The loop is possible to be string tied to another complimenting loop on the original cover that is decorated with stylized band between two double lines.
This vessel carries Yuan dynasty characteristics that emulate Middle Eastern tastes and influence that takes after 14
th
century metal vessel although the double gourd form could be of Chinese origins. The elaborate designs with packed motifs and bands suggest it is definitely made for the clients of Middle Eastern taste.
The thick unctuous glaze with good shine covers the whole vessel except the interior and the round foot. The paste on the flat foot has embedded sand granules that are burnt light orange while the cover’s paste shows a finer body without sand granules. The paste used is similar to the previous ewers mentioned with similar height but this one has deeper cobalt blue that turns black on the excesses called “heap-and-pile”.
Provenance: This piece is alleged from a collector over 40 years but stopped collecting 20 years ago.