

Drinking vessel, kendi, with bulbous body, tall flaring neck and mammiform spout. It stands on a straight foot ring with ragged rim. The clay body is fine white porcelain, painted with cobalt blue pigment under a shiny, clear glaze. Foot rim unglazed. The main body is decorated with a landscape scene depicting a young servant carrying a zither or qin to his master, who is seated on a bench. On the shoulder, a band of swatiska symbols alternates with cartouches enclosing floral designs. Two floral sprays decorate the spout. There are leaf designs on the neck and overlapping petals surround the mouth. Kendi were used as drinking vessels and were mainly made for the export market to Southeast Asia.