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.
Plaster reproduction of stone original
19th-20th centuryMinoanGray earthenware
2nd millennium BCEChineseLight gray stoneware with medium brown glaze
8th-9th centuryChineseYue ware: light gray stoneware with celadon glaze over incised decoration. From the Yue kilns at Shanglinhu, Zhejiang province.
10th centuryChineseEnamel
20th centuryAustrianEnameled blue-and-white ware, "wucai" type: porcelain with decoration painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels; with underglaze cobalt-blue mark reading "Da Ming Wanli nian zhi" within a double circle on the base
16th-17th centuryChineseGlass
20th centuryDutchInlaid celadon ware: light gray stoneware with celadon glaze over decoration inlaid in black and white slips
13th centuryKoreanCast bronze with greenish patina; with inscription cast on the interior
14th-11th century BCEChineseSea green nephrite
18th-19th centuryChineseBlack earthenware
3rd millennium BCEChinese