Rare white-glazed double chicken-head ewer

Tang dynasty (618 - 907 AD)

The chicken-head ewers are classic from Tang dynasty, but this one having double chicken heads as spouts is rare. The compressed globular body rises from a flat foot and is surmounted by a tapering waisted neck with a flaring rim. The twin spouts in the form of chicken‘s head are attached on one side of the shoulder, whereas the opposite side has a double-strap arched handle ending with a dragon head biting the rim. Both the chicken heads and the dragon are made in great detail expressing a harmonious feeling. In between them on both sides of the shoulder are set with two small squared lugs. The body is decorated with three groups of incised lines and carved leaf motifs. It is covered with crackled white glaze reflecting the brilliance of jade coloured celadon. The thick glaze stops irregularly above the foot to reveal the stoneware body coated with white slip.