308 - (R) A LARGE MARTABABN STORAGE VASE, SOUTH CHINA, 15TH TO 16TH CENTURY

(R) A LARGE MARTABABN STORAGE VASE, SOUTH CHINA, 15TH TO 16TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 65 cm Wide 46 cm Depth 46 cm Weight: 17 Kilograms A large, heavily potted storage jar with broad shoulders, an ovoid body and a short, sturdy neck. Applied loop handles sit high on the shoulders, while the rounded sides are enlivened by raised decorative panels, scrolling motifs and vigorous animal forms. A warm amber-brown glaze pools in the recesses and shifts towards olive and golden tones across the relief, emphasising the strength of the modelling. Large jars of this general type are often described as Martaban wares, a name associated with the maritime circulation of storage vessels through Southeast Asian trading networks. Their imposing shapes were suited to transport and storage, yet the moulded ornament also gave them considerable decorative presence. Here the interplay of boldly projecting relief, thick glaze and monumental proportions is particularly striking, with the repeated motifs wrapping around the vessel rather than presenting a single privileged viewpoint. For lots marked with (R), a 19% VAT is added to the combined hammer price and commission. This VAT is waived for: - Private buyers outside the EU who officially export the items.- Businesses inside the EU holding a valid VAT number, exporting to their home country. Proper export documentation is required to waive the VAT