Ming Dynasty Blue‑and‑White Melon‑Shaped Ewer With Phoenix‑Head Spout & Scroll Motifs, Ming Dynasty 14th‑17th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: 17 cm (6.69 inches) wide, 14.5 cm (5.71 inches) high, Ming Dynasty, 14th-17th century. Condition and Provenance: This ewer is in excellent condition. The body, phoenix-head spout, and curled handle are free of cracks, damage, or replacement parts. The mouth and foot show only signs of natural aging. The original glaze and cobalt blue decoration remain unchanged, with no signs of repainting, gluing, or repair. Originally from a family collection in southern China, this ewer was transferred to an antique porcelain gallery in Hong Kong in the 1990s and acquired in 2023 by a private collector specializing in Ming and Qing porcelain in Florida, USA. Hong Kong, Florida, and Toronto are major global trading centers for Ming and Qing porcelain. Description: This Ming Dynasty Jingdezhen blue and white melon-shaped ewer can be used as both a practical wine vessel and an exquisite decorative piece, representing a unique style among Ming Dynasty blue and white porcelain. The body is melon-shaped, with a short neck, small mouth, full shoulders, tapering downwards, and a finely finished foot. The spout is carved into a phoenix head, its open beak serving as the spout for pouring water. The phoenix's feathers and wings are meticulously and vividly depicted. The handle is decorated with lingzhi (a type of fungus) patterns, its lines flowing and graceful. The shoulder below the neck is adorned with lotus petal patterns, while the melon-shaped body is painted with flowing scrolling grass patterns. This cobalt blue porcelain pot boasts a rich and full hue, bearing the natural iron rust spots characteristic of Ming dynasty domestic cobalt ore. The glaze has a subtle bluish-white sheen. The exposed foot reveals the solid fired porcelain body, bearing the natural patina accumulated over time. The phoenix-headed pot embodies auspicious ancient connotations; the phoenix symbolizes peace and good fortune, while the melon-shaped body signifies numerous offspring. It could serve as a daily drinking vessel or a decorative piece for the hall. This pot integrates various techniques, including molding, hand-shaping, and underglaze blue, showcasing exquisite multi-layered craftsmanship. Extant phoenix-headed pots are rare, and those well-preserved with complete spouts and handles are even rarer. This phoenix-head ewer boasts a well-proportioned and full shape, vivid and three-dimensional carvings, fluid brushstrokes in the cobalt blue painting, and a remarkably well-preserved glaze. Combining practical function, aesthetic value, and historical research value, it is highly sought after by North American ceramic collectors and private museums overseas, and is a highly regarded masterpiece in the field of Ming dynasty blue and white porcelain collecting.

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