A carved 'Ding' 'Lotus Pond' bowl. Song Dynasty - Photo Sotheby's

the shallow rounded sides divided into six lobes and raised on a short foot, freely carved to the interior with a pair of mandarin ducks swimming in a pond with waterweeds, all encircled by scrolling lotuses, covered overall with an ivory glaze pooling in characteristic teardrops down the exterior, the rim left unglazed; 21.6cm., 8 1/2 in. Estimation: 30,000 - 50,000 GBP

PROVENANCE: An English Private Collection.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. London | 07 nov. 2012 www.sothebys.com