Lot 341. Property from the Mountain Edge Studio Collection. A Longquan celadon-glazed ribbed incense burner, Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127); 7.3 cm high. Estimate HK$250,000 - HK$350,000 (28 000 € - 39 000 €). Unsold. © Bonhams
 

Skilfully potted with a cylindrical ribbed body rising from three short feet to an inverted rim, covered overall in an olive-green glaze suffused with extensive crackles, except the slightly recessed base revealing the beige biscuit.

Note: Archaistic porcelains of this kind stand as the most distinctive example produced at the Longquan kiln, captivating viewers with their refined elegance. Crafted to imitate the form of ancient bronzes, they exemplify the archaism that was prevalent throughout the Song dynasty, particularly during the reign of Emperor Huizong, with the publication which illustrated the imperial collection of ancient bronzes, Xuanhe Bogu Tu (Illustrated Antiquities from the Xuanhe Hall), further highlighting the artistic revival of antiquity. The design of the present lot draws inspiration from the archaic bronze lian vessels of the Han dynasty, integrating the form with the refined celadon glaze to achieve a harmonious synthesis.

See two closely related examples, Song dynasty, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Porcelain of the Song Dynasty (II), Hong Kong, 1996, pls. 23 and 24. Compare larger examples of this type, dated to the Song dynasty, one sold at Christie's New York, 16 September 1999, lot 303; another sold at Sotheby's New York, 23 March 2011, lot 534.

Lot 342. Property from the Mountain Edge Studio Collection. A white-glazed lobed bowl, Song-Jin Dynasty (960-1234); 9.9 cm wide, 4.8 cm high (2). Estimate HK$60,000 - HK$80,000 (6 600 € - 8 800 €). Unsold. © Bonhams

Finely potted with flaring sides divided into six lobes and rising from a short foot, covered overall with a thin ivory-white glaze falling short near the base exposing the white body, box.

Note: This charming bowl features a hexalobed shape and is covered in a soft ivory-white glaze, showcasing the understated elegance of the Song dynasty.

Small lobed cups of this shape are found in northern kilns during the Northern Song Dynasty. See examples of imitation Ding white-glazed foliate cups unearthed from the Guantai kiln site; see Guantai Cizhou yao (Cizhou kiln at Guantai), Beijing, 1997, pls. 10,6 and 61,2.

The ivory-white glaze of this cup has a subtle yellowish-beige tone, which is consistent with other Northern Song wares featuring a similar glaze. For comparison, several white vessels from the collection of the National Museum of China are included in the publication by Wang Xiaowen and Gao Xinyuan, 'The Unearthed Artifacts of the Ancient City of Julu from the National Museum of China Collections', Journal of National Museum of China, Beijing, 2024, no. 5, pp. 132-149.

An example of a similar Northern Song dynasty Ding white-glazed lobed cup was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 16 December 2021, lot 5015.

Lot 339. Property from the Mountain Edge Studio Collection. A small Longquan celadon-glazed tripod incense burner, ding, Southern Song-Ming Dynasty (1127-1644); 7.9 cm high. Estimate HK$220,000 - HK$400,000 (24 000 € - 44 000 €). Unsold. © Bonhams

The compressed globular body rising to a slightly waisted neck and an everted mouth rim set with a pair of upright handles, the exterior decorated with a raised string, all supported on three cabriole legs, covered overall with a soft olive-green glaze falling short of the base, box.

Note: The simple yet elegant design of the present lot makes it a tasteful piece for the scholar's table. Its form is inspired by the ancient bronze ding, reinterpreted by the Song craftsman into a compact size with graceful lines. Longquan kiln is renowned for its celadon glaze. The present lot showcases a lustrous, jade-like glaze, complemented by a subtle bow-string encircling the body, exemplifying the refined elegance of the Song aesthetics.

Surviving examples of this type are exceedingly rare. An incense burner of similar form and design was excavated from the pit H20 at Tiger Cave kiln site in Hangzhou, though its feet are cylindrical shape with tiny flanges, illustrated in Zhongguo chutu ciqi quanji (Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China), vol. 9: Zhejiang, Beijing, 2008, pl. 204. The publication dates it to the Song to Yuan dynasty, while the editor also notes that some scholars suggest it should be attributed to the Guan wares of the Southern Song dynasty.

Related example of similar shape and size was produced in other kilns, see a Ge example, Southern Song to Yuan dynasty, in the Palace Museum, Taipei, accession no. guci017459.

Lot 343. Property from the Mountain Edge Studio Collection. A Longquan altered-celadon glazed stemcup, Song-Ming Dynasty (960-1644); 8 cm high. Estimate HK$50,000 - HK$70,000 (5 500 € - 7 700 €). Unsold. © Bonhams

Potted with deep rounded sides rising to a lipped rim, supported on a tall spreading foot encircled by a raised band, covered overall with a pale yellowish-green glaze suffused with fine crackles, stopping neatly above the footring, box.

Lot 344. Property from the Mountain Edge Studio Collection. An incised Longquan celadon glazed stemcup, Song-Ming Dynasty (960-1644); 9 cm high. Estimate HK$50,000 - HK$70,000 (5 500 € - 7 700 €). Unsold. © Bonhams

The deep bowl with a slightly everted rim, decorated around the exterior with incised petals, the underside of the bowl encircled by another band of pointed petals, all supported on a tall spreading foot, covered overall with an olive-green glaze suffused with fine crackles, the footring left unglazed.

Lot 345. Property from the Mountain Edge Studio Collection. A Longquan celadon glazed octogonal stemcup, Song-Ming Dynasty (960-1644); 8 cm high. Estimate HK$50,000 - HK$70,000 (5 500 € - 7 700 €). Unsold. © Bonhams

Potted with faceted sides supported on a splayed stem foot decorated with raised bands, covered overall save for the footring with a soft greenish-grey glaze.

Note: Longquan stem cups of this form are particularly rare. See a larger (13.3 cm high) example with moulded panels left in the biscuit, dated to the Yuan dynasty, illustrated in Splendour of Ancient Chinese Art: Selections from the Collections of T. T. Tsui Galleries of Chinese Art Worldwide, Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 38.

Compare a related Longquan celadon 'bajixiang' octagonal stem cup, Yuan dynasty, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29 May 2019, lot 388.

Lot 340. Property from the Mountain Edge Studio Collection. An extremely rare Cizhou black-glazed cylindrical vase, Jin-Yuan Dynasty (1115-1368); 26 cm high. Estimate HK$400,000 - HK$600,000 (44 000 € - 66 000 €). Unsold. © Bonhams

Robustly potted with a cylindrical body subtly tapering to a slightly splayed foot, rising to a waist neck and small lipped rim, covered overall save for the base and foot in a thick lustrous glaze of brownish-black tone, Japanese wood box.

Note: Sturdily potted and featuring a thick, glossy glaze that flows smoothly along the vessel, the present vase exemplifies a refined focus on both glaze and silhouette, with no additional decoration. Its well-balanced shape reflects the craftsman's steady hands during the potting process, showcasing the skill and precision that define this elegant piece.

Cizhou kiln, esteemed as one of the preeminent folk kilns of Northern China during the Northern Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, is particularly celebrated for its black-glazed wares decorated with the sgraffiato technique. Undecorated black-glazed wares, such as this vase, are notably rare. The deep-hued, lustrous glaze of this piece also evokes a sense of tranquillity and exemplifies the refined aesthetic of subtle elegance.

Comparable vases of this shape and decoration are rare. Similar example can be found in other kiln, see one potted in a closely related shape from the Yaozhou kiln, dated to the Northern Song dynasty, from the Songde Tang Collection, later sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3 December 2021, lot 2829.

The tall, slender design and small pouring opening of these vessels suggest that they were likely used for storing wine in the past. See a black-glazed 'chlicken leg' vase incised with four characters 'du jiu shi si' (Wine Management) around the shoulder, Yuan to Ming dynasty, which was excavated at the Huairen kiln site in E'maokou village, Huairen, Shanxi province, now in the Shanxi Museum, illustrated in Zhongguo chutu ciqi quanji (Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China), vol. 5: Shanxi, Beijing, 2008, pl. 226.

Lot 338. Property from the Mountain Edge Studio Collection. An exquisite and rare Longquan celadon-glazed 'deer gazing at the moon' dish, Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368); 19.4 cm diam. Estimate HK$600,000 - HK$800,000 (66 000 € - 88 000 €). Unsold. © Bonhams

Sturdily potted with shallow rounded sides rising from a short foot, subtly moulded to the centre of the interior with a deer with its head elegantly turned and gazing at the full moon, covered overall with a thick satiny olive-green glaze, with the exception of an unglazed ring on the base burnt orange in the firing.

Note: The present dish is distinguished by its fine potting, flawless tactile glaze, and the highly unusual decoration of 'deer and moon' applied on Longquan ware.

In Chinese culture, the deer symbolises longevity and is often featured in Daoist imagery alongside Immortals like Shoulao, representing the quest for eternal life. Additionally, the Chinese character of deer, lu, is a homophone for the word for official emolument, reinforcing its association with prosperity and success in one's career. The motif was widely applied in jade carvings, ceramics, paintings, and prevalent during the Song and Yuan dynasty.

Longquan celadons with this design are very rare. A closely related dish of similar design, with a deer turned its head and gazing at the moon formed by a 'fu medallion', alongside with lingzhi fungus, dated to the Yuan dynasty, is in the Longquan Celadon Museum, Lishui, Zhejiang province. See also a fragment of a Ruyao celadon-glazed dish decorated with a deer grasping a lingzhi stem in its mouth, excavated from the kiln site at Qingliangsi, Baofeng, Henan province, illustrated in Ruyao ci jianding yu jianshang (Appraisal and Appreciation of Ru porcelain), Nanchang, 2005, pl. 30.

For other related decoration applied in Longquan ware, see a Longquan celadon-glazed foliate dish moulded with crane and deer amid clouds, Yuan dynasty, late 13th century, from the Lucy Maud Buckingham Collection, now in the Art Institute of Chicago, accession no. 1924.351.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 29 October 2025