Lot 252. A fine and rare large 'Ding' 'Lotus' bowl, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), 26cm., 10 1/4 in. Estimate 6,000 — 8,000 GBP. Lot sold 48,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.

each of the six gently curved petal-shaped lobes springing from a short straight foot, freely incised to the interior with a lotus medallion encircled by leafy scrolling lotus, covered overall in a clear ivory glaze, the rim copper bound.

Provenance: Bluett & Sons, London (paper label to the base). 

Literature: 'Hsing-Yao and Ting-Yao', The Bulletin of Far Eastern Antiquities, no. 25, 1953, Stockholm, 1953, pls. 75, 76, 81, fig. 66.

Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 409.

Jan Wirgin, Sung Ceramic Designs, Stockholm, 1970, pl. 63a.

Sotheby's. London, Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork: Early Chinese Gold and Silver, 14 May 2008