A rare 'Jun' blue-glazed bubble bowl, Northern Song dynasty

Collection of Zhang Zuolin (1875-1928), according to family records.

C. T. Loo, Paris.

Collection of Mrs. Lilian Solvay.

Frank Caro, New York, acquired in 1958.

Characterized by gently rounded sides and a subtly inverted rim, this refined bowl belongs to the established Jun ware form known as the 'bubble bowl'. This designation refers to the visual effect created on the interior surface, where the glaze can evoke the appearance of a soap bubble when observed from a particular angle. Jun ware is notable among the major Song dynasty ceramics for its robust body and substantial potting, a feature that favoured the development of simple yet harmoniously and elegantly proportioned forms. Within this corpus, small bowls of this type are particularly admired for their plump, well-balanced profiles, enhanced by a small foot and gently inverted lip, making them both visually pleasing and comfortably held in the hand.

Comparable Jun bubble bowls examples of this type have appeared at auction, including a closely related bowl, slightly larger in size, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 13th October 2021, lot 3685; one sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30th May 2023, lot 3004; and a further example sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 9th October 2014, lot 116.