A White-glazed DING Gourd-shaped Ewer with Bas-relief of Lotus Petals

The Ewer is built in a delicate double-gourd form, with a small mouth and a plump rim; the upper ovoid chamber is connected by a girdled waist to the lower globular belly on which a curved spout and a handle are attached. It is supported on a short foot ring with a flat bottom. The upper chamber is carved with hollyhocks petals around shoulder; while its belly with three-layered lotus petals. The girdled neck is carved with embossed rings; and the lower part is also carved with hollyhocks petals on the shoulder, and three-layered lotus petals on the belly below two rings of intaglio borderlines. Veins and ridges are of clean and smooth contour; the curved handle is carved with embossed borderlines and patterns of hollyhocks’ leaves, and attached to the girdled waist and belly’s shoulder. It is covered overall in white glaze, leaving its white biscuit exposed at the foot bottom.