c. 1675
Comprising a larger and pair of smaller examples, each inverted baluster on spreading foot, elaborately chased with foliage on a matted ground, the larger example with stylised snake heads tied with ribbon amid scrolling acanthus and garlands of fruit, the smaller examples with a band of alternating vertical water leaves and acanthus under an applied molded rim and chased above with winged angel heads and wild masks amid fruit and ribbons, all with necks chased with vertical acanthus leaves and with removable domed covers with similar chasing; the larger with fruit form finial and smaller with baluster finials; the larger engraved underneath No. 14 and with scratch weight 12: 12; the smaller examples engraved No. 18 8 = 11 and No. 19 8 = 10 respectively.
19 x 11.4 cm (7 1/2 x 4 1/2 in.)
Private Collector [1], London, England, sold [through Sotheby's, London, 1974, lot 192]. Private Collector, Amsterdam, sold [through Sotheby's, Amsterdam, December 3, 2002, lot 39]; to [Rare Art London Ltd., London], sold; to Harvard University Art Museums, 2003. [1] The Covered Jars were sold as "Property of a Lady." The sale contained works from the collections of Sir George Albu, W.D.E. Allen, Sir Stephen Courtauld, Captain Sir Weldon Dalrymple Champneys, Galfry Willam Gatacre, Jennings Family, F. Naylor, and Mrs. Annesley Vachell.
Light gray stoneware with mottled iron-cobalt-brown glaze over wax-resist brushwork decoration, with artist’s mark impressed on the base
21st centuryJapanesePunch'ŏng ware: light gray stoneware with celadon glaze over decoration carved and incised through the white-slip ground
15th centuryKoreanPale blue glass
1st-2nd century CERomanCarved rhinoceros horn
17th centuryChineseNorthern black ware of Cizhou type: light gray stoneware with dark brown glaze, the decoration painted in overglaze iron oxide
12th centuryChineseEarthenware with slip-painted decoration
4th-3rd millennium BCEChineseTerracotta
GreekTerracotta
3rd millennium BCECypriotSilver
18th centuryBritishCizhou ware: light gray stoneware with decoration incised and carved into an all-over coating of white slip, the whole piece covered with a clear, transparent glaze
12th centuryChineseFritware painted in black (chromium) under turquoise (copper) transparent alkali glaze
12th-13th century