AN UNUSUAL CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE MING-STYLE EWER

Kangxi blue and white ewers of this type are rare, and of particular interest since they take their inspiration from Ming dynasty vessels of the Hongwu (1368-1398) reign. The more frequently seen ewers from the later Qianlong reign (1736-1795) take their inspiration from the Ming dynasty vessels of the Yongle reign (1403-1424). A Kangxi ewer of very similar size and decoration to the present lot, but with cover, is in the Palace Museum, Beijing (see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum – Blue and white Porcelain with Underglazed Red (III), Hong Kong, 2000, pl. 46, p.53.