A very rare xingyao octagonal alms bowl, 10th/11th century

the rounded bowl above the slightly concave sides each applied with an animal mask with open jaws revealing a loose ball within, the eyes set below heavy brows with small pricked ears and horns, with simulated bamboo borders, the rim impressed with florets at each corner and a continuous thin band of ring punching. 21cm., 8 1/4 in. Est. 300,000—500,000 GBP

PROVENANCE: Peter Selinka Collection.

Sotheby's London, 30th March 1978, lot 153.

EXHIBITED: Chinese Ceramics from Private Collections, Museum of East Asian Art, Cologne, 1988.

LITERATURE AND REFERENCES: Ulrich Wiesner, Chinesische Keramic Meisterwerke aus Privatsammlungen, Museum fur Ostasiatische Kunst, Koln, 1988, pl. 23.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. 13 May 09. London www.sothebys.com photo courtesy Sotheby's.