a very rare 'qingbai' iron-spotted figural ewer and basin Southern Song dynasty

the ewer cleverly modeled as the Three Laughing Friends of the Tiger Gorge ('huxi sanxiao you'), the grinning figures facing inward in mutual embrace, their conjoined bodies forming the cylindrical vessel, with projecting heads joined by the spout held by one of the figures, opposite the handle attached to the back of another figure whose open hat serves as the mouth, each distinctly robed, with details picked out in iron-brown, the bell-form deep basin atop a short straight foot, both covered in a translucent slip (2)

The ewer: the glaze is dry and fritted overall. Under UV light, it appears half of the base of the spout has been retouched, the bald figure retouched at the neck, ears, around the back and head, the figure next to the handle retouched at the back of the head. These areas are visible to the naked eye (they resemble tea stains), which probably indicate discoloration of old retouching. The basin: there are six circular glaze losses to the interior. Under UV light, two spots on the exterior are revealed, near the flakes to the glaze, similar to the spots on the ewer.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present ewer is an extremely rare example of splashed qingbai wares of this type. However, qingbai figures of officials, decorated in this manner with iron-spots, are known from excavated examples; see a set of figures excavated in 1966 in Jingdezhen county published in Kaogu, 1977, no. 2, pp. 143-144, pl. 11 and 12; and a large group of splashed qingbai  tomb figures sold in these rooms, 4th June 1985, lot 133.