宋 鈞窰月白釉盌

with steep rounded sides rising to a delicately incurved rim, covered overall in an evenly applied 'moon white' glaze of milky lavender-blue suffused with a pale crackle and draining to a mushroom color at the rim, the glaze pooling unevenly above the unglazed foot ring, Japanese wood box (2)

繭山龍泉堂，東京

日本私人收藏

In excellent general condition, with only minor firing imperfections, comprising two iron spots and two glaze pulls to the interior, and two burst glaze bubbles and a glaze pull at the foot. The glaze of an attractive variegated sky-blue tone, with a faint crackle. Light surface wear.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

One of the 'five famous wares of the Song dynasty', 'Jun' ware was much admired for the beauty of its glaze, which ranged from moon-white to sky-blue, and often contrasted against a vivid purple splash. Deriving its name from the kiln near Juntai terrace within the north gate of the Yuzhou prefecture in Henan province,  'Jun' wares were produced from the end of the Northern Song period to the Ming dynasty. 

See a 'moon-white'-glazed 'Jun' bowl of closely related color but of slightly different proportions, in the Qing court collection, illustrated in Selection of Jun Ware: the Palace Museum’s Collection and Archaeological Excavation, Beijing, 2013, cat. no. 9.  See another 'Jun' bowl of closely related form and size, but with a sky-blue glaze, discovered in 1963 at Huangzhuang, Henan province and now in the Henan Provincial Museum, published in Zhongguo taoci quanji [Complete series on Chinese Ceramics], Shanghai, 1999-2000, vol. 7, pl. 186.

Compare a bowl of similar size, form and color sold in these rooms, 23rd March 2011, lot 543.