Lot 707. The Kuroda Family Yuteki Tenmoku. A highly important and very rare ‘oil spot’ Jian tea bowl, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279);  4 13/16 in. (12.2 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 1,500,000 - USD 2,500,000. Price realised USD 11,701,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017.

The deep, rounded sides are covered inside and out with a thick iridescent black glaze suffused with a dense pattern of variegated iridescent ‘oil spots’, stopping in an irregular line and pooling above the foot, exposing the blackish-brown body. The mouth rim is mounted with a metal band, Japanese wood and lacquer boxes and a selection of other accessories.

Registered in Japan as an Important Art Object on 18 December 1935; deregistered on 4 September 2015. 

Provenance: The Kuroda Family Collection.
The Marquis Kuroda Nagashige (1867-1939).
The Marquis Kuroda Nagamichi (1889-1978).
The Ataka Collection.

Literature: Koyama Fujio, Toji taikei (Compendium of Ceramics), vol. 38:tenmoku, Tokyo, 1974, pl. 17 & 18. 
Nihon Keizai Shinbunsha, Ataka korekushon: chugoku toji meihin ten (Masterpieces of Old Chinese Ceramics from Ataka Collection), Tokyo, 1975, no. 59. 
Christie’s, The Classical Age of Chinese Ceramics: An Exhibition of Song Treasures from the Linyushanren Collection, Hong Kong, 2012, pp. 104-105, no. 39. 
Rosemary Scott, ‘Chinese Classic Wares from a Japanese Collection: Song Ceramics from the Linyushanren Collection’,Arts of Asia, March-April 2014, pp. 97-108, fig. 9.

Exhibited: Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Tokyo Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Department Store, Ataka korekushon: chugoku toji meihin ten(Masterpieces of Old Chinese Ceramics from Ataka Collection), September 1975.

Notes: Box Inscription:
"Yuteki Tenmoku" is inscribed in gold lacquer on the cover of the black lacquer inner box.

"Foremost family heirloom", "Tea bowl", "One" written on a paper slip on the cover of wood box. 

Accessories:
Song Dynasty Brown lacquer circular bowl stand, zhantuo, inscribed inside the foot and the mouth with tea master's mon.
Ming Dynasty Yellow and gold brocade silk, kinran, pouch. 
Green and gold brocade silk pouch.
Gilt-metal-decorated brown lacquer box, probably early Edo period.

Christie's. The Classic Age of Chinese Ceramics: The Linyushanren Collection, Part II, 15 September 2016, New York, Rockefeller Plaza