A Purple-Splashed 'Jun' bubble bowl. Song Dynasty. Photo Sotheby's

with rounded sides slightly incurved at the rim, resting on a slightly tapered and neatly knife-pared foot, covered overall with an even, light blue glaze draining to a buff color at the rim, splashed with small purple streaks, the glaze coagulating just above the foot burnt russet-brown in the firing; Diameter 3 3/8 in., 8.6 cm. Estimate 80,000-120,000 USD

PROVENANCE: Collection of Millicent Rogers (1902 - 1953).

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. New York. 14 september 2011 www.sothebys.com