The British Museum has been systematically building up its holdings of Vietnamese ceramics and now has the best collection in the UK. The kendi is unique and depicts two mythical beasts galloping through clouds and is the largest existing Vietnamese kendi in the world. The oviform jar has a central band of scrolling peony flowers.

Provenance

1) Kendi: Seligman Collection; Soame Jenyns; Ian Wasserman; Adrian Joseph; British Rail Pension Fund; Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 1989; Mr and Mrs Eric Nissen. 2) Jar: Sir David Home; Sotheby's, London, 1992; Mr and Mrs Eric Nissen. Both works have b