I purchased this large and extremely heavy ceramic vessel about one year ago from a dealer who knew absolutely nothing about it. In the ensuing months, I have tried my best to research its country of origin and age, only to come to a screeching halt. A friend who works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art forwarded the photos on to a couple of experts in their fields and the results were less than satisfying. His response was: “The Islamic folks think it looks Ancient Near Eastern and the Ancient Near East folks think it looks Islamic”. I then sent the photos to a collector of ancient Chinese ceramics living in Hong Kong who had this to say: “…my personal thinking it maybe an old piece, possibly around Yuan-Ming 14th-17th century from the cutting of foot rim, glaze and the shape. You can imagine..how much there we spent times and money just to repaired by brass to mouth rim. We must used logically consideration. Last but not least, I predicted it’s from some kind small kilns in China which just a few people can identified…”. Hmm.
These are the facts I do know: the vessel has a distressed green crackle glaze over a red clay pottery body. It measures 14″ high, has an opening of 4-1/4″ and is 8″ wide from handle to handle. An asymmetrical brass collar with an incised floral pattern is covering most of the neck, presumably masking a damaged top. As far as the repair goes, it seems to be of Middle Eastern design, possibly Turkish.
I would greatly appreciate any information anyone may have to help me identify this truly puzzling piece.
I think it looks Asian, possibly chinese and could be from one of the areas of China that are near the western Russian border, or Xiangian or something like that-maybe something that found it’s way from country to country on the Silk road trading route between europe and asia…just a thought
no idea but that’s just gorgeous… good luck!!
Somebody did not want to part with that item. Amazing. Could the copper betray its origins?
The repair looks Indian, the celadon Chinese. I thought this was quite similar:
http://www.georgekidner.co.uk/index.php?categoryId=13920&contentId=12177&archived=true&showAll
(lot 62)
Maybe the people from Time Team in the UK can help, as they have unearthed so many things and know about lifestyles of the ancients a lot. Could be worth a try???
Sorry, here is the link! http://www.channel4.com/programmes/time-team
In the UK most people contact the Victoria and Albert Museum with unusual finds or authentication of antique objects. You could try them at:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/contact-us/
That apart, their website is worth a visit!