Tang dynasty, 618 - 907
With ovoid form, short conical spout, and double-strap handle rising to the everted mouth rim, covered inside and out with an opaque "teadust" color and stopping in a neat line above the shallow, spreading foot with flat base
Provenance:Sotheby's Olympia London, December 2003
Compare a similar ewer sold at Christie's, New York, September 20th, 2002, lot # 24, with an estimate $8,000 - 12,000 Ewers of this type first appeared duriing the Sui dynasty (518 - 618). By Tang times the basic ewer-form may also have been inspired by metalwork example. These vessels would typically have been used to hold hot water which would then be poured into tea bowls with powdered tea.