DescriptionA VERY RARE CHINESE YELLOW-GLAZED POTTERY 'DRAGON AND PHOENIX' 'PILGRIM'S' FLASK, NORTHERN QI DYNASTY (550-577) 北齊 黃釉高浮雕龙鳳紋扁壺 Pilgrims flasks like the present example are known as bianhu which translates to a 'flattened jar'. Travelers preferred these types of vessels as drinking containers for longer journeys because of the lug handles. The shape of this vessel shows strong influence from West and Central Asia. A design of a phoenix on these flasks is a typical motif of the 5th and 6th Centuries, but designs of dragons are exceptionally rare. The combination of dragon and phoenix design in this period represents strength, fortune, and perseverance rather than the Emporer and Empress in the later periods (Song-Qing period). The presence of large bunches of grapes and sinuous vines is an additional highlight to this flask. They show "much of the Hellenistic tradition which was present, especially in Khotan, Miran and Loulan, the cities of the southern Silk Road through Central Asia". (Watson,1984) Flasks decorated with a dragon are extremely rare while phoenix decoration is more common. A flask with almost identical decoration has been discussed in Mr. Wu's essay, which is currently in a private collection in Toronto, sold at Sotheby's London, 18/06/1985, lot 29. For similar flasks with both sides decorated with a dancing phoenix flanked by grape vines, see Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29/11/2019, lot 394; and Sotheby's London, 10/6/1986, lot 112. Also see, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (26.292.44), illustrated at R.D. Mowry, Hare's Fur, Tortoiseshell, and Partridge Feathers: Chinese Brown and Black Glazed Ceramics, 400-1400, p. 83. In addition, see, The Meiyintang Collection, PX. Furthermore, see the British Museum (1936.1012. 253), formally in the collection of George Eumorfopoulos. For similar flasks decorated with central Asian dancers amidst grape vines, see Metropolitan Museum (A2001.629) and the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Lucy Maud Buckingham Collection, (1924.270). Also, compare to a smaller flask with dancing monkey decoration covered with a green glaze, and dated to the Tang dynasty, see Christie's New York, 14/09/2018, lot 1278." Provenance: The Estate of the Late Walter Hochstadter and Alice Chu, acquired by Walter Hochstadter prior to 1997 hence by descent. Walter Hochstadter was a well known and distinguished dealer of Chinese art, born in Krumbach (Germany) in 1914. In the late 1930's he emigrated to the United States and died in Melbourne, Australia in 2007. He was a member of the Oriental Ceramic Society (USA) from 1953-1982. A large number of the Hochstadter collection was sold at Christies New York, 18th/19th March 2009, with a piece lot 518 reaching 2 million US dollars. Walter Hochstadter (候时塔) and Alice Chu遺產，由候时塔購藏於1997年以前，後由家族繼承。 候时塔是著名傑出中國藝術收藏家，1914年出生於德國，於三十年代移民美國並於2007年在澳大利亞墨爾本去世。1953-1982年間，他曾為美國東方陶瓷協會會員。部分Hochstadter收藏中國藝術曾與佳士得紐約2009年3月18日-19日拍賣，其中一件518號拍品拍出200萬美金。品相报告: Condition ReportOverall in good condition, a few areas of glaze wear and flaking