A Chinese famille verte ewer

The vessel is of helmet-form with a strap handle curled over the rim. The spout is moulded with a bearded mask, the ewer is decorated and gilt with flowers and foliate patterns, lappet bands, and two phoenixes flanking the handle. The stepped lower body is decorated with flowers and bands.

Catalogue notes: a very similar ewer was sold from the Hodroff Collection, Christie's New York, 24 January 2007, lot 21. A further similar ewer is illustrated in D.Howard and J.Ayers, China for the West, Vol.1, p.117, no.93, and by the 17th century, European silver ewers of similar form were popular, and ceramic versions were manufactured in Dutch delftware and Rouen faience.