Lot 87. An incised sancai pillow and an amber-glazed marbled pillow, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HKD 70,000 - HKD 90,000 (USD 9,057 - USD 11,645). Price realised HKD 118,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The sancai pillow is incised to the top with a stylised floral scroll bearing two blossoms, picked out in green, amber and cream glazes, the four sides resist-decorated in cream against a rich amber ground, one of which is pierced, the base mostly unglazed revealing the pale buff body. The marbled pillow is decorated to the top with a pattern of ovoid insets, with some further areas of marbling on the rounded sides, one of which is punctuated, covered overall with a deep amber glaze with the exception of the centre of the base encircled with three spur marks.

Sancai pillow: 5 in. (12.6 cm.) wide; marbled pillow: 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm.) wide, boxes

Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong, 21 November 1985.

Christie's. The Pavilion Sale - Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 4 April 2017, Hong Kong