Lot 361. A Qingbai moulded ewer and cover, Song dynasty (960-1279); overall 8.2 cm, 3¼ in. Estimate: 60,000 - 80,000 HKD. Lot sold 75,600 HKD. Photo: Sotheby's.

Provenance: Collection of Peter and Nancy Thompson.

Exhibited: From the Tang to the Qing: Chinese Ceramics from circa 618-1850 A.D. from the Collection of Dr. and Mrs. Peter Thompson, Hull University, Hull, 1996, cat. no. 33.

Splendor of the Past: The Spirit and Form of Chinese Ceramics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, 2014.

Note: With a combination of works by Asian and Western blue-chip artists as well as emerging local talents, the Chu Foundation, founded by Hong Kong-based art patrons Natalie and Lawrence Chu, represents a distinct perspective from Hong Kong where the Chu family is rooted. Its diversity in expression reflects Natalie and Lawrence’s belief that art can spark innovation and enrich lives.

In addition to modern and contemporary works of art, the Chus, by virtue of their interests in earlier technological advances, are also passionate about Song dynasty ceramics, of which the production was undeniably unparalleled by contemporaneous global standards. The diversity in Song dynasty ceramics is also congruous with their eclectic sensibilities. The selection of ten Song - Ming dynasty ceramics offered in this sale include examples from the Northern and Southern kilns. Comparable to the sherds found in the archaeological sites on the Silk Road, the lots on offer serve as a window into the prosperous trade and cultural exchange in which they are steeped.

Sotheby's. China / 5000 years, Hong Kong, 27 November 2020