Of baluster form, the spout painted as a branch with raised roots extending out over the body, the body painted with panels of flowers and bamboo, the neck further painted with birds on flowering branches and with everted six-point flower-form mouth, mounted with a stepped circular foot and plain neck band connected by vertical straps extending down the body and around the spout, apparently unmarked.



The present ewer is an example of Kraak wares produced during the Wanli period and typified by the fine potting, press-molded forms, and naturalistic blue decoration. The form of this specific ewer is unique and not necessarily typical of domestic Chinese wares, or wares based on European forms specifically produced for export. A similar ewer with naturalistic root forms around the spout is in the collection of the British Museum, London (obj. no. Franks.1579).