A small Dingyao carved bowl, Northern Song dynasty (AD 960-1127). Estimate $10,000 – $15,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The bowl has deep, rounded sides and is carved in the interior with a single blossom borne on a leafy stem, and is covered overall below the unglazed rim with a glaze of ivory tone that pools in tears of greyish-olive tone on the exterior. 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm.) diam., Japanese wood box

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 17 - 18 September 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza