A pair of Chinese fahua ewers and covers in the shape of Sogdian merchants, 17th C.

H.: 22,5 cm

Condition: (UV-checked)
Both figures with some normal wear to the glaze, glaze loss and typical superficial chips throughout.

The left ewer
- The left arm probably broken and reglued, with related overspraying.
- A glaze line of ca. 6 cm extending upwards from the base rim.
- The cover with a section of ca. 3 cm broken and reglued.

The right ewer
- Generally in good condition.

品相報告：（已用紫外線光檢查）
兩個瓷塑均有典型的釉面磨損，剝釉和典型的小飛皮。

左邊的瓷塑
- 左邊手臂的袖子可能斷裂後粘合，有相關聯的噴漆痕跡。
- 一條約 6 釐米的垂直驚釉從圈足往上延伸。
- 蓋子一處約 3 釐米的破裂，後粘合。

右邊的瓷塑
- 整體品相良好。

The complementary pair depicting Sogdian merchants, portrayed as kneeling foreigners with curling dark hair and beard, wearing a long dark-blue robe with sleeves extending beyond the hands, with turquoise girdle and skirt, a pouch slung over one shoulder, one raised arm forming the spout, the other the handle of the ewer, wearing a dark-blue peaked hat with thick rolled turquoise brim, which serves as the cover.

Fahua-type ewers are rare and the present pair is particularly unusual for its figural form. No other vessels of this type appear to have been published, although kinrande figural ewers made for the Japanese market are known, such as one in the Percival David Foundation.

Provenance:
- Christie's London, 15th November 2000, lot 262.
- A private collection, acquired from the above.
- Sotheby's, New York, Sep. 16, 2008, lot 99. (link)