Lot 837. A marbled bowl, Northern Song-Jin dynasty (960-1234); 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) diam., brocade box. Estimate USD 10,000 – USD 15,000. Price Realised 32,760 USD © Christie's 2023

The bowl is formed from chocolate-brown and milk-white marbled clay forming ‘feather’ patterns beneath a plain white slip band at the rim, all under a clear glaze.

Provenance: J. J. Lally & Co., New York, no. 4568.

Note: Marbling, known in Chinese as jiao tai (mixed clay), became a popular decorative technique on ceramics of the Tang dynasty and continued to be made throughout the Song-Jin period at a number of northern kilns, including the Kuangshan kilns in Jiaozuo and the Dangyangyu kilns in Xiuwu county, both in northern Henan province. The marbled appearance could be achieved either by combining clays of different colors when making the vessel, as is the case with the present bowl, or by slicing the twisted and kneaded clay into thin layers that would be laminated onto the surface of the vessel. In either case the piece was afterwards covered with a transparent glaze. Both marbling techniques required considerable skill on the part of the potter.

A very similar Song-dynasty marbled bowl with parallel ‘feather’-pattern, white rim and flat base, is illustrated by R. Krahl in Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol 3. (II), London, 2006, p. 527, no. 1528. Another very similar example from the Dangyangyu kiln site in Henan province, now in the collection of Henan Archaeological Research Institute, is illustrated in Zhongguo Dangyangyu yao (Chinese Dangyangyu Kiln), Beijing, 2011, p. 137, no. 125. See, also, a similar example from the tomb of Xu Gui, dated by epitaph to AD 1161, illustrated by Zhang (ed.) in Zhongguo chutu ciqi quanji (Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China), vol. 5, Shanxi, Beijing, 2008. p. 83, no. 83.

Lot 840. A marbled bowl, Northern Song-Jin dynasty (960-1234); 5 1/8 in. (13 cm.) diam., cloth box. Estimate USD 8,000 – USD 12,000. Price Realised 75,600 USD © Christie's 2023

The rounded bowl is formed from marbled dark-brown and cream-colored clay twisted into irregular swirls and compressed into uneven rows, all under a glossy clear glaze.

Provenance: J. J. Lally & Co., New York, no. 2925.

Note: As noted in the catalogue note for lot 837, the technique employed for 'marbled' or jiaotai wares was challenging for potters, but achieved striking results. It is also interesting to note that although formerly thought to be derived from the tixi multi-colored lacquer tradition, recent scholarship finds the inspiration to have more likely come from marbelized glasswares of the ancient Near East. Such pieces have been found in excavations as far as Afghanistan and Korea. Evidentally Tang potters of the early 8th century adapted this technique to pottery, creating the world's earliest form of marbelized ceramics. For further discussion, refer to Wu Tung, Earth Transformed: Chinese Ceramics in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2001, p. 39. A slightly larger bowl of similar shape and pattern, with the cream-tone clay more prominent, was sold at Christie's New York, 24-25 March 2022, lot 1093.

Lot 841. A marbled saucer dish, Northern Song dynasty, 10th-11th century; 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm.) diam., brocade box. Estimate USD 15,000 – USD 25,000. Price Realised 22,680 USD. © Christie's 2023

The shallow dish is formed from dark brown and cream-colored clay marbled in loosely concentric circles, all under a clear glaze of slightly yellowish tone.

Provenance: J. J. Lally & Co., New York, no. 4775.

Note: A marbled pottery dish of very similar form and closely related design is illustrated by H. Tseng and R. P. Dart in The Charles B. Hoyt Collection in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, vol. II, Boston, 1972, no. 9. See, also, the marbled pottery dish of this form and closely related design illustrated by Zhang (ed.), Zhongguo chutu ciqi quanji (Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China), vol. 5, Shanxi, Beijing, 2008, p.149, no. 149.

Christie's. J. J. Lally& Co., New York, 23.03.2023