Lot 86. A Shaanxi black-glazed bowl, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127); 10.2 cm, 4 in. Estimate 12,000 — 15,000 GBP. Courtesy Sotheby's.

the shallow rounded sides rising from a short spreading foot to a slightly everted rim, covered overall in a lustrous glossy black glaze suffused with silvery-brown splashes imitating partridge feathers.