A SANCAI-GLAZED ‘DUCK’ CERAMIC EWER, LIAO DYNASTY China, 916-1125. The ewer is sturdily potted, yet subtly modeled into the shape of a Mandarin duck, the neatly incised feathers elegantly glazed in tones of emerald green and pale ochre. The funnel with an overlapping petal border in relief. The spout integrated into the beak of the bird. The unglazed areas revealing the buff ware.

Inscriptions: To the base, ‘M.M.D.’

Provenance: From the estate of Sarah Belk Gambrell, who was the Chairman Emeritus of The Gambrell Foundation. She held numerous positions at Belk Stores during her lifelong career including the Board of Directors. In 2020, the Queen’s University named the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for Arts and Civic Engagement in her honor.
Condition: Good condition commensurate with age and as expected for authentic pottery from this period. Some firing flaws, including pitting, glaze recesses, and firing cracks. Extensive wear, traces of use, fritting, and minor losses, especially to the base.

Weight: 109 g
Dimensions: Length 16.5 cm, Height 9.6 cm

Literature comparison: A closely related sancai ewer, excavated at Lingyuanxian is now in the Liaoning Provincial Museum and illustrated in A Selection of the Treasures of Archaeological Finds of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, 1987, no. 62. See also an example formed as two intertwined ducks illustrated in Gems of Chinese Art, Tsui Art Foundation, Hong Kong, 1992, no. 35. Another Liao sancai ‘mandarin duck’ ewer was sold at Christie's London, 19th June 2001, lot 21.

Auction result comparison: Compare a near-identical duck-shaped ewer, dated to the Liao dynasty, 20.5 cm, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in Chinese Art on 18 December 2020, lot 1016, sold for HKD 107,100.

遼代三彩鴛鴦形水壺
中國，916-1125年。厚胎，巧妙地塑造成鴛鴦的形狀，整齊的羽毛，施翠綠色和淡赭色釉。壺口邊緣有花瓣紋。鴨嘴為壺口。未上釉區域露出淺黃色胎。

款識：底部可見“M.M.D.” 字樣

來源： Sarah Belk Gambrell遺產，他是 Gambrell 基金會的名譽主席。在她的畢生職業生涯中，她在 Belk Stores 擔任過多個職位，包括在董事會。2020 年，Queen’s University以她的名字命名了 Sarah Belk Gambrell 藝術與公民參與中心。
品相：與年齡相稱的良好狀況，符合這一時期陶器的狀況。一些燒製瑕疵，包括點蝕、釉面凹陷和燒製裂紋。廣泛磨損、使用痕跡、熔結和輕微缺損失，尤其是底座。

重量：109 克
尺寸：長16.5 厘米，高9.6 厘米

拍賣結果比較: 比較一件幾乎一模一樣的遼代鴛鴦水壺，高 20.5 厘米，見香港蘇富比Chinese Art 2020年12月18日 lot 1016, 售價HKD 107,100。