EXCEPTIONAL AMPHORA WITH DRAGON HANDLES. CERAMIC.
China. Sui Dynasty; 518-618.

Leather coloured shard; the upper part covered with a light colored glaze. Bulbous; elegantly tapered towards the slightly sprawling foot. The two sculptural dragons; which are winding around the neck with rings in relief; biting into the bowl-shaped lip and thus form the sprawling handles; are very unusual. The unusual size and the entwined dragons make this amphora a rather unique piece. Height 60cm. Condition B. The glaze on the body detaches itself in small flakes.

Provenance:
-The Wannieck Collection; Paris 1911-13.
-Collection Dr. Maurin; acquired at Ader-Picard in Drouot; March 1987.

This type of Amphora imported to China from the Near-East and Central-Asia and was Sinicized with dragon handles. The models are probably from Persia and came via the Southern Silk Road to China.

A Thermoluminescence Test by CIRAM; no. 0507-AO-05B-2T dated Sept. 3rd 2007 confirms this date. A second expertise by x-ray confirms the integrity of the amphora.Art trade; Van Ham.