- 68
A FINE PURPLE-SPLASHED 'JUN' 'BUBBLE' BOWL NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 GBP
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Description
- Stoneware
the gently rounded sides rising from a short straight foot to a slightly incurved rim, applied overall with a glossy bubble-suffused pale-blue glaze, with deep-lavender splashes, the glaze draining from the mouth rim from a mushroom tone and falling just short of the foot revealing the reddish-brown body
Provenance
Acquired from John Sparks Ltd., London in the 1930s (by repute).
George Harwood Snr, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Thence by descent.
George Harwood Snr, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Thence by descent.
Condition
The bowl is in overall good condition with the expected burst bubbles to the surface and a circa 1cm., iron-spot glaze run to the interior and a similar circa 2cm., glaze run to the exterior.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Purple-splashed Jun bowls of this classic Northern Song shape are remarkable for their understated elegance, offset by splendid colouration displaying a range of blue and lavender tones. The vibrant colours, glossy glaze and rounded shape on the current bowl successfully create the illusion of a soap bubble, hence their ‘bubble bowl’ name. Rose Kerr in Song Dynasty Ceramics, London, 2004, p. 34, notes that the splashes found on ‘Jun’ wares are made with the application of copper brushwork or washes, which then merge with the bluish ‘Jun’ glazes at full heat. This provides a striking contrast to the thick bright blue glaze beneath, giving each vessel decorated in this manner its unique design.
Compare a splashed bubble bowl in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in the Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelain of the Song Dynasty (I), Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 225; and another from the Sir Percival David collection and now in the British Museum, London, illustrated in Margaret Medley, The Chinese Potter, Oxford, 1976, fig. 83. Two Jun splashed bubble bowls from the Edward T. Chow collection, amongst the best extant examples, were sold in our London rooms, 16th December 1980, the first, lot 264, sold again in these rooms, 19th May 1987, lot 209, from the T.T. Tsui collection, the second, lot 265, sold in our London rooms, 7th June 2000, lot 93; and a single bowl was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2014, lot 3686.
Compare a splashed bubble bowl in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in the Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelain of the Song Dynasty (I), Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 225; and another from the Sir Percival David collection and now in the British Museum, London, illustrated in Margaret Medley, The Chinese Potter, Oxford, 1976, fig. 83. Two Jun splashed bubble bowls from the Edward T. Chow collection, amongst the best extant examples, were sold in our London rooms, 16th December 1980, the first, lot 264, sold again in these rooms, 19th May 1987, lot 209, from the T.T. Tsui collection, the second, lot 265, sold in our London rooms, 7th June 2000, lot 93; and a single bowl was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2014, lot 3686.