Lot 2910. A Cizhou sgraffito 'Deer' pillow, Northern Song dynasty, 11th-12th century; 12 in. (32 cm.) wide. Estimate HKD 150,000 - HKD 250,000. Price realised HKD 187,500. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019.

The canted, cloud-shaped top of the pillow is supported on a tall, waisted foot. The upper surface is crisply carved through white slip to depict a shaped panel enclosing a spotted deer amongst plants, surrounded by a segmented panel of conforming shape decorated with three flower scrolls and a leafy scroll, all surrounded by a band of stamped flower heads, box.

See a lobed pillow decorated in a similar manner in the Art Institute of Chicago Collection, reference no. 1986.863.

Lobed Pillow with Deer, Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), late 11th/early 12th century. Cizhou ware; slip-coated stoneware with underglaze impressed and molded decoration; 25.0 × 21.0 × 13.0 cm (9 13/16 × 8 1/4 × 5 1/8 in.), Samuel M. Nickerson Fund, 1986.863. © Art Institute of Chicago.