A RARE CIZHOU WHITE-GROUND PAINTED BOWL SONG DYNASTY |

potted with a deep U-shaped body supported on a short splayed foot and gently tapering inwards at the mouth, the exterior freely painted in dark brown on an ivory-white slip with undulating reeds extending across the vessel, all veiled under a clear glaze

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29th October 1991, lot 12.
Sotheby's New York, 23rd March 2011, lot 523.

There are some wear and flaking of the cream slip on the upper rim edge, otherwise the piece shows typical crevasses and minor burst bubbles characteristic of the type.
"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."

Freely painted with an attractive design of undulating reeds, this cup is characteristic of wares produced at the Cizhou type kilns in Ci county, Hebei province. A layer of white slip was applied over the body, which was then painted with dark brown pigments in rapid brushstrokes before being enhanced by a coat of clear glaze. Such vividly contrasting brown-and-white design is reminiscent of calligraphy and ink paintings and thus vessels such as the present would have been highly sought after by the literati during the Song dynasty (960-1279). Bowls of this type are known in a variety of sizes, proportions and designs; for one of related form, compare a larger bowl painted with floral scrolls, with a fitted cover, from the collection of Madame Paul Pechère, included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition The Arts of The Sung Dynasty, London, 1960, cat. no. 93; and another painted with peony leaf sprays, attributed to the Jin dynasty, from the Avery Brundage collection and now preserved in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, San Francisco, exhibited in Freedom of Clay and Brush through Seven Centuries in Northern China: Tz’u-chou Type Wares, 960-1600 A.D., Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, 1980, cat. no. 66. See also two small jars rendered in this painterly style, but of ovoid form and decorated with three large floral sprays, sold in these rooms, the first from the T.Y. Chao collection, sold 18th November 1986, lot 18, and the other, 5th April 2017, lot 3201.