Large ewer

A published white-glazed piece from Shaanxi (Hyogoken Mus. 1989: pl. 35) is identical in shape to this ewer, which has a short neck and a full body resting on a flat base. Another recently recovered piece with the engraved inscription hanlin ("member of Imperial Academy") from the xing kiln ruin in Hebei has the same shape and glaze as this piece (KG 1991.5: 416). Outstanding for its unusually large but undistorted body, this ewer strongly suggests the high level of control achieved by artisans in the process of preparing raw clay, and in shaping, glazing and firing the vessels during the Tang dynasty.