LARGE WHITE GLAZED DRAGON-HANDLED AMPHORA

唐白釉雙龍耳尊

Tang dynasty 7-10th century AD

46.5 cm high

Description: This is a white-glazed dragon-handled amphora in a classic Tang style but such a large size is rare. The ovoid body sweeping upward to a long waisted neck and cupped mouth is attached with a pair of arched handles flanking the neck and ending with dragon heads biting the rim. The shape of the body clearly has a foreign influence through the silk road trade that flourished during the Tang dynasty. However, the vivant dragon-shaped handles are certainly Chinese additions, as the dragon has been a traditional motif from a pure Chinese culture and mythology. The white-coloured glaze is applied expressing an ivory tone with delicate cracks. The layer of glaze is thinly adapted on the surface covered with white slips and the glaze dripping from top to bottom forms four round patterns above the flat foot rim. This is different from the majority of the other similar objects having an irregular glaze layer accumulated at the bottom or shoulder of the body.

Provenance: A collection from Singapore

Reference: For a similar object, please refer to Accession Number: 29.100.217 from Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.