Ewer with eight-sided spout

Since the middle of the eighth century, the changsha kiln made its mark with new techniques: shallow-relief molded-patterns, underglaze-painted decorations, and calligraphy inscribed on wares. The shallow-relief patterns were either appliquéd with pre-molded forms or immediately impressed on a thickly built biscuit area. Among the variety of motifs for shallow-relief patterns, the grapevine design was widely used on polychrome glazed ewers (CGK Zenshu 1982 vol. 8: pls. 39, 44, 102). This ewer features a three-bar handle with alternating three-bar ears on the shoulder.