Yellow-glazed porcelain ewer and cover

Ming dynasty, Jiajing reign mark and of the period 1522-66

'Imperial yellow' glaze such as is found on the present ewer and cover, was in favour throughout the Ming dynasty.  This particular ewer, from the middle Ming period, appears to be a very rare survivor.  Only one other Jiajing mark and period ewer of the same shape but glazed in iron-red - in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing -  appears to have been published.