A Cizhou carved pillow, Song dynasty, 11th-12th century. Estimate $12,000 – $18,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The canted, cloud-shaped top of the pillow is carved through white slip with a large, flowering peony stem within a line border, all under a clear glaze. The underside of the rim and the sides are covered with a dark brown glaze that falls short of the flat base which is painted in black with an illegible inscription. 12 in. (30.5 cm.) wide, Japanese wood box

Literature: 100 Ceramic Pillows: Formerly the Hayashibara Museum collection, T. Edo Inouye & Son Oriental Art, Tokyo, March 2012, no. 99.

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 17 - 18 September 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza