A 'LINGWU' BLACK-GLAZED SGRAFFITO MEIPING XIXIA DYNASTY

finely potted of meiping form, the rounded sides rising from the flared foot to the short neck and wedge-shaped flanged mouth, applied all over with a thick lustrous brown slip, deftly carved through in sgraffito technique to reveal an underlying design highlighted in a golden-brown tone, a broad band of peony designs against a finely combed background, above a band of thick interlocking plantain leaves at the foot and a narrower band at the shoulder, the glazed base incised with a three-character inscription, the first character reading mao (possibly a name)

Sotheby's London, 12^th November 2003, lot 69.

Song Ceramics from the Kwan Collection, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1994, cat. no. 196.

This rare vase is in very good condition with the exception of a 6cm., glaze firing line around the upper shoulder, a 12mm., wide flake to the inside edge of the footring, minor glaze firing imperfections and light surface scratches.
"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."

Brown-glazed vessels with this kind of large-scale sgraffito decoration on a hatched background have been discovered at the 'Lingwu' kiln sites in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, attributed to the Xixia and Yuan dynasties. See Ancient  Porcelain Kilns at Lingwu, Ningxia, Beijing, 1988, passim. Another very similar meiping is illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 1, London, 1994, pl. 451.

Compare also a related vessel from the Yokogawa collection published in the Illustrated Catalogues of Tokyo National Museum, Chinese Ceramics, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1988, cat. no. 629, together with a sgraffito decorated bottle vase of this type, from the same collection, cat. no. 630.