Ewer with dragon handle and dragon spout

Object Details

• Description

  Vessel has ovoid body, short neck, everted rim and low, shaped foot. Vessel also has a distinctive handle and spout, both in the form of dragon heads. The handle is thick and curves up from the shoulder, above the body, and then turns downward with the dragon head biting into the rim. The spout is opposite the handle and the dragon-head form rises from the shoulder with the mouth open. Vessel has black glaze with bluish-white splashes throughout most of the surface; the piece is burned reddish brown in some unglazed areas.

• Provenance

  ?-1972

  J.T. Tai & Co., Chinese Fine Arts, New York, New NY [1]

  1972-?

  Columbia University in the City of New York, NY, purchased from J.T. Tai & Co., Chinese Fine Arts, New York, NY [2]

  ?

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), New York, NY [3]

  ?-2006

  Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, New York, NY

  From 2006

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, New York, NY

  Notes:

  [1] Invoice from January 31, 1972, copy in object file, Collections Management Office.

  [2] See note 1. See also agreement between the Columbia University and the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, copy in object file, Collections Management Office.

  [3] This object was in Dr. Arthur M. Sackler’s possession prior to his death. As the object was on loan to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery from him in 1986. See the Loan Agreement, copy in object file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)

  Pavilions and Immortal Mountains: Chinese Decorative Art and Paintings (September 28, 1987 to February 28, 1988)

• Previous custodian or owner

  J. T. Tai & Co. (established in 1950)

  Columbia University in the City of New York

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

  Arthur M. Sackler Foundation (founded 1965)

• Origin

  Duandian kiln, Jiaxiam, Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  800s, 700s

• Name

  Sackler, Arthur M., Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Columbia University in the City of New York, J. T. Tai & Co.

• Place

  Duandian kiln, Jiaxiam, China, Henan province

• Topic

  Art, Stoneware, Chinese Art, Huangdao ware, Phoenix, Tang dynasty (618 - 907), Ceramics, Dragon

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)