Glazed ceramic jug, ‘Phoenix’, Ming style

A pouring jug with a lid, made of porcelain glazed in blue beneath a white underglaze. The pear-shaped body rests on a flared foot decorated with scrollwork and lotus petals, whilst the middle section features lobed medallions depicting pairs of phoenixes amidst clouds and floral motifs. The moulded spout is shaped like a dragon’s head with its jaws open, as is the curved side handle. The piece is completed by its conical lid, crowned with a lotus-shaped knob.

Size: 22 x 10 x 19 cm (approx.); Mouth diameter: 4.5 cm; Base diameter: 7 cm