The ovoid shape suggests the influence from “amphora” of Greece and Rome, while the dragon-shaped handles allude to Persian and Central Asian metalwork. The ubiquitous dragon is a East Asian addition to this type of vessel.
A pair of double-strap 'dragon' handles applied with bosses that rise from the rounded shoulder and terminate in a dragon head biting the rim, and is covered with a finely crackled straw glaze.
Period : Tang dynasty(618-907) Type : Amphora Medium : Straw glazed Stoneware Dimension : 47 cm(Height) x 11.5cm(Mouth Diameter) Condition : Excellent Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s from Hongkong Reference : 1) Christies New York - 20–27 MAR 2018 - A STRAW-GLAZED STONEWARE AMPHORA - Lot 27 (Price realised : 17,500 USD / Type : Closely related) https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/art-china-new-york-spring-edition/lots/436
2) Sotheby's New York 11 September 2019 - A RARE AND LARGE STRAW-GLAZED POTTERY AMPHORA EARLY TANG DYNASTY - Lot 526 (Price realised : 50,000 USD / Type : Closely related - Among similar type amphoras, it has sold at a relatively high price, but it was chosen as a reference due to its closest similarity in size and form.) https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2019/a-noble-pursuit-important-chinese-korean-art-n10231/lot.526.html
* Tang Amphora
This Tang Pottery amphora was made at a time when China was particularly influenced by metal-work and textiles, as well as other exotic objects from Central Asia, ultimately Hellenistic and Iranian. These objects were carried on the Silk Road to China and became very fashionable with the newly wealthy classes. So it is not surprising that this Tang cup is based on Central Asian metal-work.
