Lot 2272. A small carved Ding bowl, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127); 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 100,000 - HKD 150,000. Price realised HKD 275,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012

 The bowl is of conical form, with finely potted flaring sides rising from a narrow foot ring. It is carved in the interior with a series of gently curving, radiating double-line spirals forming the flutes of a stylised lotus leaf. The exterior is left undecorated. It is covered overall with a glaze of warm ivory tone. The mouth rim and part of the base are unglazed, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Spink & Son, Ltd., London, 1997
A Japanese private collection.

Note: A few extant Ding bowls with this leaf design are published. One very similar example is in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in Porcelain of the Song Dynasty (I), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 50. Another comparable example with a metal-bound rim in the Lord Cunliffe Collection was included in the Exhibition of Sung Dynasty Wares, The Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 9 November-17 December 1949, Catalogue no. 136; and later sold at Christie's London, 11 May 2010, lot 254.