A rare white glazed oil-lamp – Tang Dynasty
With rounded sides rising from a flat base to a lipped rim. It is set with a handle attached to the inside of the vessel, and a subtle spout on the opposite side. The relatively thick body is white and high fired, and it is covered overall in a transparent glaze except for the lower part of the outside body and the base. The hard white body and the characteristics of the glaze suggests this could be an early Ding product or possibly from Gongyi kilns, Henan. This design was produced by kilns in Hunan, Zhejiang and Sichuan in the Tang and Song dynasties and are often referred to as an oil lamp. The inside spout has been left unglazed to properly hold the wick in place (see photos).
Period: Tang dynasty
Size: Diameter 8.1 cm, height 3.7 cm
Condition: Good condition, minor wear and baking flaws, no cracks or repairs
Provenance: From a German collection
SKU: 230
References: A similar vessel was excavated from the Changsha kiln site, Wangcheng county, Hunan province and is illustrated in Complete Collection of Ceramic Art unearthed in China – Hubei Hunan, Zhang Bai, Science Press, Bejing, 2007, Plate 175.
A very similar white oil lamp was sold by Sotheby's in Amsterdam 25 October 1994. lot 173. See 2 last pictures for scannings from the catalogue.
More info: Northern White Ware
