A RARE 'CIZHOU' SGRAFFIATO 'PEONY' VASE NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY

the baluster body rising from a short spreading foot to a tall trumpet neck with rolled rim, freely carved through the layer of brown slip to the ivory white layer beneath with two large peony blooms borne on a meandering leafy scroll, all above a lappet band at the base and covered overall with a transparent glaze, Japanese wood box

This rare vase has some over-painting to the edge of the foot and a circa 2.5 x 6cm., crescent-shaped section of the foot, restoration to approximately a third of the rim and some minor glaze firing imperfections around the body.
"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."

Some of the most attractive Cizhou ware produced at the Cizhou kilns in Guantai, Ci county, are arguably those decorated in this impressive and vividly contrasting black-and-white sgraffiato style, which was created through the application of two layers of slip. A layer of white slip was applied over a layer of black slip, which was later carefully incised and cut away to reveal the pristine white layer beneath and then covered by a layer of clear glaze.

A vase of this form and decoration was excavated at Guantai and illustrated in The Cizhou Kiln Site at Guantai, Beijing, 1997, col. pl. 9, no. 2. Compare also a closely related vase, from the collection of Hirota Matsushige, now in the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, included in Illustrated Catalogue of Tokyo National Museum. Chinese Ceramics I, Tokyo, 1988, pl. 560;  another in the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, published in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 115; a third in the Matsuoka Museum of Art, Tokyo, included in the Museum’s exhibition Famous Pieces of Chinese Pottery and Porcelain, Tokyo, 1983, cat. no. 23, and sold in these rooms, 25th March 1975, lot 14; and a further vase in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, published in John Ayers, Far Eastern in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1980, pl. 113.