Kendi for the popular wear market; China, Qing dynasty, 19th century. Hand-glazed porcelain. Origin

Kendi for popular market use; China, Qing dynasty, 19th century.
Hand-glazed porcelain.
Provenance: American private collection.
Measurements: 23 x 15 cm.
The piece presented here is a kendi, a vessel for pouring liquids characterised by its spout and lack of a handle. The earliest examples of this type can be found in the Song dynasty period (960-1279). Stylistically, the most important colour of these kendi was opaque white, which could be mixed with other glazes to produce a range of pastel shades, making it possible to imitate Western painting. Black also appeared as an independent glaze, perfected in such a way that it was no longer necessary to cover it with another colour, as had been the case until then.