Ewer with chicken headed spout

Referred to in current archaeological studies as a "chicken-headed" ewer, this shape along with sheep-, eagle-, ox-, and tiger-headed wares, represents the efforts of Jiangsu-Zhejiang potters to construct funerary articles (KG 1983.4: 318; KG 1986.8: 132). Since the Eastern Jin, the chicken-headed ewer was produced by most kilns in the south, and the shape persisted into the sixth century in the north. The bridge-shaped ears on this ewer, however, distinguish this piece from earlier ones since they became fashionable only after the fifth century. This piece is extremely valuable as an early example of opalescent blue glaze, which prospered after the tenth century.