A RARE LONGQUAN CELADON LOBED BRUSH WASHER SONG DYNASTY |

with shallow sides flaring at an angle from a short tapered foot to a rim gently divided into six lobes with small grooves, evenly covered overall save for the footring with a luminous bluish-green glaze with faint crackles on the interior, the unglazed footring revealing the buff body burnt brownish-orange in the firing

There is a very shallow insignificant skin-deep kiln chip along the edges of the thin footrim measuring 1.2 cm. The piece is otherwise in excellent condition with typical crazing to the glaze.
"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 serenity of the form and glaze of this washer embodies the fresh aesthetic of the scholar-officials of the Song dynasty (960-1279) which was characterised by simplicity, modesty and naturalism. The luminous glaze, delicately draped over the body to complement its graceful silhouette, draws from the rim and pools gently in the well in an effect that simulates ice on a bright winter’s day. Such reference to nature is also indicated by its lobed form which resembles a flower, a popular shape in ceramics and lacquerware for its association with longevity and a fulfilling life. The gently lobed rim and attractive angled form reflects the close dialogue between monochrome lacquer and ceramics during this period. Longquan celadon washers of this type are rare; see one, the glaze of a slightly greener tone, included in the exhibition Longquan Ware: Chinese Celadon Beloved of the Japanese, Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, Nagoya, 2012, cat. no. 53; and another covered with a bluish-green glaze with light brown crackles, sold at Christie’s London, 10th December 1990, lot 114A, and again in our New York rooms, 23rd March 2011, lot 510.

Dishes of similar form were produced at a number of kilns; see a Guan example, from the collection of Stephen Junkunc III, sold at Christie’s New York, 22nd March 2007, lot 385; and again in these rooms, 5th April 2017, lot 1106; and another from the Lord Cunliffe collection, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30th April 2001, lot 648. Compare also Ding versions of this dish, but with a much narrower foot, such as a brown-splashed black glazed example, from the collection of Mr and Mrs Alfred Clark, Idemitsu Museum of Arts and Francisco Capelo, sold four times at auction, in 1975, 2002, 2010 and most recently in these rooms, 3rd October 2017, lot 4, from the Le Cong Tang collection; and a Ding-type persimmon-glazed dish, from the Harry Nail and Hans Popper collections, sold in our New York rooms, 13th/14th September 2016, lot 107.