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

The bowl has deep conical sides and the interior and exterior are covered in a lustrous black glaze finely streaked with silvery brown 'hare's fur' markings stopping above the unglazed foot rim. 4 7/8 in. (12.5 cm.) diam. Lot 397. 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 and size, but more purple-toned in colour, which sold in our New York rooms, 17 September 2008, lot 423.

This finely potted bowl is similar to one illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 10, Tokyo, 1955, pl. 61; and another included in the exhibition, Song ceramics from the Hans Popper collection, Eskenazi, London, 3 - 26 November 2005, no. 37.

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