A QINGBAI 'BOY' PILLOW SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTY

the lower section finely modelled with a reclining young boy resting on his right side on a rectangular base simulating a bed, rendered with a gentle smile on his face, supporting a lobed curved panel, the oval centre of the panel finely incised with stylised foliate scrollwork

An approx 7 by 13 cm section to the right of the upper platform has been broken and restuck as visible on the photo with some small losses of material along the break. It was originally re affixed with an old glue, now cleaned and replaced with a transparent filling. More generally the pillow has been professionally cleaned and is now in good presentation stage. There is a hairline crack extending vertically from the bottom to the top of the base on the reverse (approx 3.5 cm), on the longer end at the level of the boys feet. The actual colour is slightly more greenish compared to the catalogue photo.
"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."

This charming piece belongs to a group of sculptural pillows produced in Jingdezhen kilns such as those of Hutian, Jiangxi province, during the Song dynasty (960-1279). Fragments of pillows of this type have been unearthed at these sites, such as one modelled in the form of a boy sleeping included in the exhibition Ceramic Finds from Jingdezhen Kilns, Fung Ping Shan Museum, 1992, cat. no. 70.

Two qingbai pillows of boys similarly modelled supporting a headrest in the form of a lotus leaf are illustrated in Rose Kerr, Song Through 21st Century Eyes. Yaozhou and Qingbai Ceramics, Dreumel, 2009, pls. 2-15 and 2-16. See also two qingbai pillows of this type but modelled in the form of a reclining lady, the first in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, published in Stacey Pierson, Qingbai Ware. Chinese Porcelain of the Song and Yuan Dynasties, London, 2002, pl. 125, and the other illustrated in Rose Kerr, op. cit., pl. 2-17.

Symbolic of the wish for many children, the motif of boys was very popular in the Song dynasty and sculptural pillows of boys were produced at different kilns; compare a Ding pillow of closely related form in the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, published in Sekai toji zenshu/ Ceramic Art of the World, Tokyo, 1977, vol. 12, pl. 12; and another in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Selection of Ding Ware. The Palace Museum’s Collection and Archaeological Excavation, Beijing, 2012, pl. 42.