A large brown lacquer eight-lobed dish. Song/Yuan Dynasty

The shallow tray supported on three short semi-circular feet, the short sides slightly rounded and ending on eight sharp lobes, the feet and mouth rim bound with metal, Japanese fitted box. 46cm (18in) diam. (3). Estimate: £20,000 - 25,000 - Unsold.

Provenance: A Japanese private collection.

Notes: For a similar brown-lacquered eight-lobed dish but of smaller proportions, see L. King Tsi and H. Shih Chang, Dragon and Phoenix, Chinese Lacquer Ware, The Lee Family Collection, Tokyo, 1990, p.70, pl.21.

The current dish is part of a group of lacquer wares from the Song and Yuan Dynasties that had their shapes based on ceramic wares from the same period. In particular, such shapes were based on Ding wares from Hebei Province. Another further feature of Ding wares that appears in this group of lacquer wares is the binding of the rims with metal.

For a full discussion on monochrome lacquers from the Song and Yuan Dynasties see Hin-cheung Lovell, 'Sung and Yuan Monochrome Lacquers in the Freer Gallery', Ars Orientalis, no.9 (1973), pp.121-30.

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Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 6 Nov 2008. New Bond Street www.bonhams.com