A CELADON PHOENIX-HEADED EWER AND COVER
10th-12th century
The heavily potted vessel loosely incised around the body with lotus leaves and stems rising from leaf lappets at the short, slightly tapering cylindrical foot ring and below a more cursory leaf design at the rounded shoulder and the cylindrical neck with two incised lines at the rim, divided by a simply incised loop strap handle at one side and a rare phoenix-headed spout to the other, the waisted tall domed cover surmounted by a knop finial and also lightly incised with a leaf design.
8 3/4in (22.3cm) high
Footnotes:
十-十二世紀 青瓷鳳首帶蓋執壺

For a similar-form Yueh-chou celadon ewer and cover (without a phoenix-head spout), see Mayuyama, Seventy Years, Volume One, Tokyo, 1976, p. 117, no. 336, from the Umezawa Gallery, Japan, and another of different form but similar loosely carved decoration, see ibid., p. 117, no. 335. The same publication illustrates a Five Dynasties white ware phoenix-headed ewer, p. 115, no. 329.

PLEASE NOTE: This report describes, but may not be limited to, major condition issues for the lot.

In excellent condition, with no touch-ups or restoration to the expected points of usual damage. An attractive soft olive glaze with numerous small iron spots to the surface and some iron patches to the strap handle as is often seen in such wares. Kiln spur marks to the foot ring revealing a grey stoneware body in places.