A FINE 'JUN' 'LOTUS BUD' WATER POT NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY

the short, slightly flared foot rising to rounded sides, covered with a thick lustrous glaze of milky lavender colour, stopping just short of the foot and thinning at the mouth rim to a pale mushroom colour

Collection of Robert Chang.

Christie's New York, 21st March 2002, lot 150.

Collection of Francisco Capelo.

An Exhibition of Important Chinese Ceramics from the Robert Chang Collection, Christie's, London, 1993, cat. no. 4.

Francisco Capelo et. al., Forms of Pleasure. Chinese Ceramics from Burial to Daily Life, London, 2009, pl. 56.

This waterpot is in good condition, but does have a number scratches to the interior base. The shape is particularly pleasing, as is the thick lilac glaze that pools to the exterior of the base.
"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."

'Jun' lotus bud waterpots of this elegant form and distinctive opalescent glaze are held in major public and collections worldwide; see one of this size, from the British Rail Pension Fund and exhibited on loan at the Dallas Museum of Art between 1985-1988, sold in these rooms, 12^th December 1989, lot 85; another in the Baofeng County Cultural Relics Bureau, published in Ruyao de xin faxian, Beijing, 1991, pl. 107; and a third example in the Meiyintang Collection illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 1, London, 1994, pl. 393, together with a vessel of this form but decorated with purple splashes, pl. 392. Compare also a water pot in the Shanghai Museum included in Chugoku toji zenshu, vol. 12, Kyoto, 1983, pl. 30; another in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, published in Suzanne G. Valenstein, A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics, New York, 1989, pl. 79; and one sold in these rooms, 12^th December 1989, lot 236.

Together with 'guan', 'ge', 'Ru', and 'Ding' wares, 'Jun' ware forms one of the 'five famous wares of the Song dynasty' as grouped by later collectors. Its heavy potting and thick glaze best lent itself to simple, fluid forms; and with its well-proportioned shape coupled with the even opalescent pale blue glaze the present waterpot is a fine example of this type of ware.