Lot 636. A silver-decorated black-glazed tea bowl, Song dynasty (960-1279); 10.8 cm diam. Price realised USD 7,620 (Estimate USD 10,000 – USD 15,000) © Christie's Images Ltd 2026

The interior is decorated with a central flower surrounded by four cartouches, each enclosing a character reading yi ju deng ke (pass the exam on the first attempt).

Provenance: Private collection, California, acquired in the United States prior to 1990 (by repute).

Note: Compare a slightly larger black-glazed bowl (11.7 cm.) similarly painted in silver on the interior with a central flower head below four large flowers but each enclosing a character reading shou shan fu hai (mountains of longevity and oceans of fortune), which was sold at Christie’s New York, 21 March 2014, lot 2082. See, also, a black-glazed tea bowl with painted silver ‘hare’s fur’ decoration exhibited by J. J. Lally, Song Dynasty Ceramics: Ronald W. Longsdorf Collection, New York, 15 March-13 April, 2013, no. 39

Christie's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 27 March 2026