Lot 1292. A rare pair of small molded Yaozhou conical bowls, Northern Song-Jin dynasty, 12th-13th century; 5 in. (12.7 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 8,000 - USD 12,000. Price realised USD 27,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2018. 

Each bowl with widely flared sides is molded on the interior with a phoenix standing at the base of a flowering stem bearing two fanciful leaves that flank a large central flower centered by a plaque inscribed with the family name Gao jia, and is carved on the exterior with a band of upright petals, all under a glaze of olive-green color. 

Provenance: E & J Frankel, New York, 18 January 1999.
Peter Scheinman (1932-2017) Collection, New York.

Note: The bird motif and the family inscription Gao jia are very rare, and it is even more unusual to find a pair of bowls with this decoration. One bowl with a similar decoration was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 4 April 2017, lot 103, and another example was sold at Sotheby’s New York, 30 March 2006, lot 38.