A 'Hare's Fur' conical bowl, Song Dynasty, 12th-13th century. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

The bowl is of flaring form and rises from a short unglazed ring foot. The glaze is of a blackish-brown tone finely streaked in russet with 'hare's fur' markings and thins to a matt dark russet colour at the rim. 5 in. (12.7 cm.) diam. Lot 396. Estimate £8,000 - £12,000 ($12,744 - $19,116)

Provenance: Formerly in a private European collection which was amassed in the 1970s. 

Notes: Compare with another 'hare's fur' bowl of similar shape but slightly smaller size sold in our New York rooms, 26 March 2003, lot 214.

R. Mowry in Hare's Fur, Tortoiseshell, and Partridge Feathers: Chinese Brown- and Black-glazed Ceramics, 400-1400, Harvard University Art Museums, 1995, explains that the 'hare's fur' markings on the surface of the glaze are created from particles in the iron-rich slip which are pulled downward during firing.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 15 May 2012 London, King Street www.christies.com