Artist Unknown

Duck shaped ewer, Ming Dynasty

  • 15th Century-Early 16th Century
  • Earthenware with sancai (three-colour) lead glaze
  • South China
  • Purchased, 1976
  • 260 x 183 x 109mm
  • 76/20

Location: Burdon Family Gallery

Tags: animals, birds (animals), jugs (vessels)

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Created in South China over five hundred years ago, probably for the Southeast Asian export market, this duck-shaped ceramic jug belongs to the early Ming Dynasty. This was a period that, under Admiral Zheng He, saw China begin trading in new markets, including East Africa and the Middle East.

(Out of Time, 23 September 2023 – 28 April 2024)

Exhibition History

Andreas Cellarius Hypothesis Ptolemaica Sive Communis Planetarum Motus Per Eccentricos Et Epicyclos Demonstrans [The Ptolemaic Hypothesis or Common Representation Demonstrating the Planetary Motions through Eccentrics and Epicycles] 1661. Hand-coloured engraving. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, William A. Sutton bequest, 2000
Out of Time
Mikhail Larionov 'Le Grillon’, Musique de Ravel (‘The Cricket’, Music of Ravel) 1919. Collection of the Gallery. © Mikhail Larionov. Licensed by Viscopy Australia, 2006
Art Detectives
Image: uploads/2023_10/76_20_view20c.jpg
Image: uploads/2023_10/76_20_view20d.jpg
earlier labels about this work

  • Art Detectives, 20 October 2006 - 25 March 2007

    This amazing jug was made during the Chinese Ming Dynasty, and is between 500 and 600 years old. It was probably made as an item to trade, at a time when China was expanding trade networks into East Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Not many like it have survived, so it’s very rare.