Blue and White Monk’s Cap Ewer
Yuan Dynasty, 14th c. China
Height: 14.5cm, Width: 17cm
A blue and white porcelain “Monk’s Cap” ewer with lid. This piece has a baluster form body with a long neck that ends in a stepped form based on Tibetan metalwork ritual objects. There is an outwardly flared handle from the shoulder to the cupped back of the mouth rim. The interior of the mouth is partially unglazed, so that the lid could be fired in place. The girth of the body is decorated with a band of scrolling lotus flowers and leaves in heaped and piled cobalt blue, and confined by double lines. Beneath is a band of overlapping ruyi lotus petals above the foot-rim and countersunk foot-well. There are four stylized characters (possibly representing Tibetan sacred syllables “Om” and “Hum” from the mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” ) around the neck, and floral scrolls adorning the mouth-rim. Scrolling tendril designs adorn the handle and lid, with flower petals decorating the top of the knob.
Excellent condition with only some surface scratching.
Provenance:
Stephen Kunian Collection, Boston
