China, 618-907. The ovoid body supported on a short spreading foot and set with two strap handles applied at the waisted neck and rounded shoulder. Covered with a finely crackled dark-brownish-black glaze highlighted by splashes of milky blue glaze running down from the shoulder and neck, stopping irregularly above the foot, revealing the buff-colored body.

Provenance: From the estate of Phillip Allen (1938-2022), who was a widely respected collector and expert of Chinese ceramics and works of art as well as a director of the Oriental Ceramic Society for many years. He co-authored and edited several exhibition catalogues for the OCS and was best known as the cataloguer of the Sir Victor Sassoon collection of Chinese ivories in the British Museum.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Ancient wear and firing flaws including pitting, glaze recesses, and firing cracks. The mouth smoothened. Occasional light scratches and few minuscule losses, the foot with minor chips.

Weight: 1,354.8 g
Dimensions: Height 19.7 cm

Expert's note: The bluish or yellowish-milky white 'phosphatic' splashes that decorate the dark brown-glazed wares of this type are applied after the initial glazing. These splashes are sometimes poured on the vessel while it is held on its side, to create a decorative trail down the body.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related jar, dated to the 9th century, in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number S2012.9.3872. Compare a related jar with two loop handles, dated to the 9th century, 23.7 cm tall, in the collection of the Saint Louis Art Museum, object number 192:1920.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 27 September 2022, lot 682
Price: USD 6,300 or approx. EUR 6,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A phosphatic-splashed handled jar, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related form with similar ovoid sides, short handles, and narrow mouth, and glaze with similar bluish splashes. Note the size (15.5 cm).