A rare 'Cizhou' 'lotus' jar, Northern Song dynasty. Estimate 30,000 — 40,000 GBP. Photo Sotheby's.

the rounded sides rising from a spreading foot to an incurving rim, the exterior covered with a white slip skilfully carved through with a wide band of a repeat design of a double lotus scroll, covered with a translucent beige glaze stopping at the base of the band, the unglazed foot revealing a greyish-white body - 12cm., 4 3/4 in.

Provenance: Acquired from John Sparks Ltd., London in the 1930s (by repute).
George Harwood Snr, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Thence by descent.

Note: This piece is unusual for its shape, which resembles the form of Jun waterpots, and its decoration that has been confidently incised in a carefree manner. Although no other closely related example appears to have been published, a Cizhou jar of similar shape and carved with a floral scroll through two layers of different coloured slips, in the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, is illustrated in Cizhou Ware of China. Its Charm and Taste, Tokyo, 2005, pl. 42.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, Londres, 11 nov. 2015, 11:00 AM