Lot 3122. A rare carved Yue ‘parrot and peony’ circular box and cover, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), 5 1/8 In. (13.1 cm.), diam., box. Estimate HKD 400,000 - HKD 600,000 (USD 51,650 - USD 77,475). © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The domed cover is finely carved in relief with a parrot in flight amidst a peony scroll, encircled by a double bow-string border with straight sides corresponding to those of the box above a tapering lower body raised on a spreading foot ring. They are covered inside and out with a glaze of soft greyish-green tone with the exception of the foot rim of the box.

Property from the Dexinshuwu Collection

Note: Parrot was a very popular motif on fine ceramic wares of the late Tang and Northern Song dynasties, and can also be found on a number of silver and gold wares, such as the famous Tang-dynasty gilt-silver lidded jar with handle excavated in 1970 at Hejiacun, Xi’an, Shaanxi province, which also bears a similar design of parrots and peonies, see World of the Heavenly Khan: Treasures of the Tang Dynasty, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2002, p. 50. 

Christie's. The Imperial Sale / Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 31 May 2017, Convention Hall