Lot 263. A large and fine 'Yaozhou' carved conical 'Peony' bowl, Northern Song-Jin dynasty, 20.6cm., 8 1/8 in. Estimate 5,000-7,000 GBP. Lot sold 8,750 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.

the deep widely flaring sides springing from a short straight foot, freely carved to the interior with a medallion enclosing a large leafy peony spray, covered overall with a lustrous dark olive-green glaze.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 67.

Jan Wirgin, Sung Ceramic Designs, Stockholm, 1970, pl. 10d.

The World's Great Collections. Oriental Ceramics, vol. 8, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 134.

Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 2002, pl. 289.

Note: Often featured in Northern Song ceramics, the peony was a particularly popular decorative motif in 'Yaozhou' ware. With its numerous petals, the peony conveyed the wish for abundant wealth. Compare a shallow bowl with a variation of the peony design, included in the exhibition Heaven and Earth Seen Within. Song Ceramics from the Robert Barron Collection, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, 2000, cat. no. 11; and three exhibited in The Masterpieces of Yaozhou Ware, The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, cat nos. 64-66. For a closely related bowl, see one sold in these rooms, 15th June 1982, lot 57; and two sold at Christie's New York, 4th June 1987, lot 216, and 2nd June 1989, lot 158. 

Sotheby's. Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork, Early Gold and Silver; Early Chinese White, Green and Black Wares, London, 14 May 2008