A RARE AND FINELY CARVED DINGYAO 'DAYLILY' BOX AND COVER NORTHERN SONG – JIN DYNASTY

of circular section, the box with straight sides and a tapered lower body supported on a countersunk base, the gently domed cover delicately incised with a daylily bloom borne on an undulating stem bearing slender curling leaves, the exterior covered overall save for the unglazed footring with a clear ivory-tinged glaze showcasing the white body

Galaxie Company, Hong Kong, prior to 1990.

The box and cover are in overall good condition with just light surface wear and expected minute nicks to the edges, the most visible measuring approx 1.5 cm to the flange of the box.
"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."

Incised with a single daylily among scrolling leaves, the present dish represents a superb and spirited example of its type, demonstrating the excellent carving skill of the artisan. Originating in the late Northern Song dynasty, this attractive design of a daylily became popular in the early Jin dynasty and was often found on excavated pieces from Jin dynasty cellars and tombs. Similar examples were also unearthed from the Ding kiln site in Hebei, such as a dish of similar decoration but straight flaring sides, attributed to the Jin dynasty, preserved in Hebei Institute of Cultural Relics. It was exhibited in Selection of Ding Ware: the Palace Museum’s Collection and Archaeological Excavation, Palace Museum, Beijing, 2012, cat. no. 105, together with another example from the collection of Palace Museum, Beijing, which is mounted with a metal rim and featured with slender petals, cat. no. 104. Several dishes of comparable shape and decoration from the Qing court collection are preserved in the National Palace Museum, Taipei. They are also mounted with metal rims and attributed to the Jin dynasty, included in Decorated Porcelains of Dingzhou: White Ding wares from the collection of the National Palace Museum, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2014, cat. nos II 47-52.

A smaller undecorated Dingyao box and cover from the Yang De Tang Collection was sold in our New York rooms, 17th March 2015, lot 66.