ewer(flattened pear-shaped) BM-1928-0718.1

Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1522-1566 (circa)
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, gilded, cold painted, underglazed,
Subjects:bird
Dimensions:Diameter: 15 centimetres (maximum) Height: 26.20 centimetres

Description:
Porcelain ewer with underglaze blue, openwork relief and cold-painted panels. This ewer has a flattened pear-shaped body, dish mouth, high flared foot, straight upright spout with curved tip attached by a strut with curlicue terminals and a straight flat handle with a loop attachment at the top for securing the cover (now missing). Most of the decoration is executed in underglaze blue with flower scrolls on the body and lappets around the foot, a cash diaper border and a band of plantain leaves around the neck, flower and classic scroll on the spout and leaf scroll and ‘ruyi’ heads on the handle. Inverted heart-shaped panels on either side enclose openwork designs of a pair of peacocks among flowering tree peonies. These are gilded, painted directly on the biscuit, and traces of red, gold and black pigments remain.
IMG


Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:An overglazed enamel ewer of similar design is in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul. Another ewer of this type also with biscuit moulded openwork rehef design of peafowl among rocks and peonies is in the Ardebil shrine.