A LARGE FINELY MOULDED 'DING' DISH JIN DYNASTY

finely potted with gently curved sides rising from a short foot rim, finely moulded on the interior with a medallion enclosing leafy budding and blossoming lotus flowers encircled by a keyfret border, surrounded by a wide band of peony flowers borne on twining stems amongst dense leaves within a double line border, applied overall with a fine ivory white glaze pooling in characteristic tear drops down the exterior, the unglazed rim bound by copper

The rim beneath the copper mount not inspected, however traces of glue suggest that it has been applied at one stage. One restored rim crack, measuring approximately 52mm, visible in catalogue image at approximately 1 o'clock, with associated over-spraying. Otherwise in good condition, with the characteristic teardrops visible to one side of the exterior. Minor firing imperfections, the mould not evenly applied in some areas.
"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."

The present 'Ding' dish is especially fine for its elegant form and impressive moulded decoration that is particularly well defined. 'Ding' wares are ranked among the 'five great wares of the Song', a term already used by collectors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. This special stoneware was celebrated for its fine white body, which does not require a slip to appear white after firing, and for its ivory coloured glaze, 'Ding' dishes of this type would have been made for the Jin court. While a number of vessels of this form and decoration are known from museum and private collections, the motif on this dish is particularly naturalistic with the lotus blossoms delicately conceived to appear lavish yet organic at the same time. Careful attention has been paid to every detail of the pattern which must have been challenging on such a large vessel.  

A 'Ding' dish of this impressive size and closely related moulded decoration was sold twice in these rooms, 10^th July 1979, lot 132, and again, 8^th November 2006, lot 48. See also a dish with comparable moulded decoration, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Chugoku toji zenshu, vol. 9, Tokyo, 1981, pl. 83, together with another example in the Tianjin City Art Museum, Tianjin, pl. 68. Compare also a dish in Taipei, published in the Illustrated Catalogue of Sung Dynasty Porcelain in the National Palace Museum. Ting Ware and Ting-type Ware, Taipei, 1973, pl. 52; another in Japan, published in the Illustrated Catalogue of Tokyo National Museum. Chinese Ceramics, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1988, cat. no. 364, from the Hirota collection; and a slightly larger piece, from the Arthur Sackler collection, sold at Christie's New York, 1^st December 1994, lot 154.

A characteristic of 'Ding' ware was the use of metal to bind the rim, as seen on this example. This was partly done to conceal the unglazed rim as wares were stacked upside-down in their saggers or firing containers and the mouth rim wiped free of glaze to prevent it from fusing the kiln furniture. However, it was not purely for utilitarian purposes, but became a fashionable trend and a feature that helped enhance the overall value of the piece. Applied metal rim band set the 'Ding' dish apart from the ordinary.