A RARE WHITE 'YAOZHOU' CONICAL BOWL NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY

of elegantly potted conical form, the glaze suffused with a very fine crackle accentuating the colour

The bowl is in good overall condition with the exception of: two small glaze pulls (ca. 0.5cm) to the exterior of the rim with associated iron-spots, one with a firing crack (ca. 0.5cm). Overall crackling to the glaze on the interior and exterior and with very minor wear. Fritting to the foot and a tiny chip (ca. 0.4cm). The colour of the bowl is of a slightly softer, creamy tone than the illustration suggests.
"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."

It is extremely rare to find 'Yaozhou' bowls of this thin potting, covered with an unusually opaque 'moon' white glaze. Song wares from Huangbaozhen, Tongchuan county, Shaanxi province, the area formerly known as Yaozhou, are typically covered in a thick olive-green glaze and are better known for their moulded and carved decoration. Vessels left plain are unusual and appear later, during the Jin dynasty when the glaze acquired a glassy bluish tinge with distinct bubbles. 

In its elegant form and white glaze the present bowl was probably inspired by contemporary 'Ding' wares, the same way potters at the 'Ding' kilnsite made wares imitating other kilns. 

See a slightly smaller 'Yaozhou' bowl of similar form but covered in a thin celadon glaze, in the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, included in the exhibition The Masterpieces of Yaozhou Ware, Yamaguchi Kenritsu Hagi Bijutsukan, Hagi, 1997, cat. no. 18; and another bowl sold at Christie's New York, 26th March 2003, lot 209, described as covered with a 'moon white' glaze. A 'moon-white' glazed 'Yaozhou' washer is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelain of the Song Dynasty (I), Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 143, attributed to the Jin dynasty.