A Cizhou-Type Painted Bean-Shaped Pillow. Northern Song-Jin Dynasty, 12th-13th Century.  Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

The concave top is decorated with a peony spray within an incised foliate-shaped medallion and five demi-blossoms at the edge. All is painted in a rich dark brown slip on a white-slip ground and covered with a colorless glaze. There are two small vent holes in one side. 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm.) - Estimate $8,000 - $12,000

北宋/金 磁州窰系白地褐花牡丹紋枕

Provenance: Spink & Son Ltd., London, before 1990. 

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part II, 13 September 2012. New York, Rockefeller Plaza