A BLUE AND WHITE 'LOTUS' EWER

A BLUE AND WHITE \'LOTUS\' EWER

LATE MING DYNASTY, 16TH-17TH CENTURY

The pear-shaped ewer is decorated in shades of underglaze blue with seven bands of various motifs, including lotus scroll and galloping horses. The spout emerges from the open mouth of a mythical beast, and the base is inscribed with an apocryphal Xuande mark.

10 in. (25.4 cm.) high