South East Asian Blue and White Glazed Pottery Ritual Bird Kendi

Square in plan with low L-shaped feet, domed lid; hatched fields with reserved vegetation motifs; inner face and lid with neat columns of dense pointillé text; the lid reading: 'Son, Zhang-Kechang laid his father to rest in this grave', the base reading: 'The late Mr. Zhang (Yuzhen) was born on the 17th September 1786 (Qianlong reign) during the morning, around 9-11am. - He passed away on the 27th January 1848 (Daoguang reign) - He was peacefully buried on the 26th of the same [lunar] month (1st Feb 1848). On a Dingyou day, with the grave opened in the early morning and the burial taking place just before noon, at a mountain in his home region. - The tomb is aligned in a traditional Chinese grave, seated on Qian mountain (NW), facing Xun (SE), with straight deviation toward Si and Wu direction (SE to S)'. 300 grams, 11.1 x 7.9 cm



From the private collection of a Canadian gentleman living in Essex, UK, formed since the 1920s-circa 1990. Property of an Essex lady until the late 1990s; thence by descent. From the private collection of an Essex gentleman since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Squat jar with broad base and low neck, part-glazed, with concentric circumferential grooves. 540 grams, 13 cm



From the private collection of a Canadian gentleman living in Essex, UK, formed since the 1920s-circa 1990. Property of an Essex lady until the late 1990s; thence by descent. From the private collection of an Essex gentleman since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Modelled in the round straw-glazed figure of a warrior with feet together and arms drawn inward, left hand holding a pair of cords issuing from a taotie mask at the chest; ribbed and tiered helmet with open face, gorget at the throat, cuirass with bosses in the form of masks to the chest; shoulder guards with dragon-heads from the shoulders to the elbows in high relief; flared skirt above voluminous trousers and shoes. 1.47 kg, 40.5 cm



with ArtAncient, London, UK, 21 January 2015, no.29319. Private collection, London, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

This figure would have stood sentinel at the entrance to a tomb, his fierce countenance and elaborate armour illuminated by the flickering light of ancient funerary rites.