General Auction Including Antiques, Collectables Gold & Silver (14% Buyers Commission)
A hand-modelled ceramic figurine depicting a seated monkey or anthropomorphic figure perched upon a crescent-shaped base designed as a stylized lotus flower. The figure appears to be holding a small object to its chest, possibly a peach. The object features three distinct apertures: one circular hole in the front of the base below the figure, and two on the reverse—one in the centre of the back and one at the top of the head. This configuration suggests the item functioned as a ceramic whistle or a calligrapher’s water dropper. The piece is crafted from a coarse, reddish-brown earthenware body, visible at the unglazed, flat-cut base. It is finished with a lead-based cream or off-white glaze, decorated with hand-painted iron-brown slip details depicting stylized lotus petals and foliage. The head of the figure is finished in a contrasting dark brown to black glaze. No maker’s marks, factory stamps, or incised characters are present on the unglazed base. The style is indicative of East Asian provincial pottery, likely of Chinese or Japanese origin.
Condition report:
The item shows signs of age and significant wear consistent with a folk-art object. There are several small chips and abrasions to the glaze, most notably around the apertures on the head and back, and along the lower edge of the base. The cream glaze exhibits fine surface crazing and some minor staining.
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