Lot 814. A rare Cizhou sgraffiato meiping, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127); 12 5/8 in. (31 cm.) high. Estimate USD 30,000 - USD 50,000. Price realised USD 32,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2018.

The tapering body is freely carved through the creamy white slip with three pairs of peony blossoms borne on meandering stems with broad leaves, between a band of elongated petals around the foot and a band of rounded petals on the shoulder, all under a clear glaze stopping short of the deeply sunken base to reveal the buff body, Japanese wood box.

Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Kochukyo, Tokyo.

Literature: Kochukyo, Soji (Song Ceramics), Tokyo, 1998, no. 26.
Osaka Municipal Museum of Art, Charm of Black & White Ware: Transition of Cizhou Type Wares, 2002, no. 36.

Exhibited: Kochukyo, Soji (Song Ceramics), Tokyo, 2-4 October 1998.
Osaka Municipal Museum of Art, Charm of Black & White Ware: Transition of Cizhou Type Wares, 1 October-8 December 2002.

Christie's. Masterpieces of Cizhou Ware: The Linyushanren Collection Part IV, New York, 13 September 2018