Ceremonial glazed ware ‘Dou’ vessel, Qing dynasty

Porcelain vessel with a rounded body and lid, standing on an elongated circular foot with a flared profile. The concave lid is finished with a small braided handle. 

It is decorated with a bright yellow glaze that covers the entire surface. The exterior is decorated with overlapping bands of varying thickness of taotie elements and Buddhist symbols in relief, which follow one after the other and give the piece an elegant and ceremonial appearance. The base is stamped ‘大清乾隆年製’.

Dou’ vessels originate from the Late Zhou period (c. 900-256/255 BC) and were usually made of bronze and arranged on altars as vessels to contain food during ceremonies and rituals.

Height: 25 cm