Lot 264. A fine 'Ding' moulded 'Boys' bowl, Northern Song-Jin dynasty (960-1234), 20.7cm., 8 1/8 in. Estimate 3,000 — 4,000 GBP. Lot sold 48,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.

the deep rounded sides rising from a short straight foot, finely moulded to the interior with a central medallion enclosing a qilin seated on an island surrounded by tumultuous foaming waves looking up at the crescent moon and star formation, encircled in the well by three young boys clad only in short frocks amidst scrolling leafy peony and a key-fret band at the rim, covered overall in a clear ivory glaze falling in characteristic tear-drops to the exterior, the rim copper bound.

Literature: 'Hsing-Yao and Ting-Yao', The Bulletin of Far Eastern Antiquities, no. 25, 1953, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 90, fig. 78.

Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 457.

Jan Wirgin, Sung Ceramic Designs, Stockholm, 1970, pl. 92b, fig. 21a.

Sotheby's. London, Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork: Early Chinese Gold and Silver, 14 May 2008