Lot 95. A rare Cizhou carved 'lotus' basin, Northern Song-Jin dynasty (960-1234), 12 1/2 in. (30.8 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 200,000 - HKD 300,000 (USD 25,723 - USD 38,584). Unsold. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017.

Provenance: Sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 May 2013, lot 2234

Note: This basin belongs to a distinctive group of Cizhou wares with carved decoration on the interior incised through the white slip and with dark slip covering the exterior. Most of the examples from this group appear to be large bowls carved with a central bloom on the interior, and basins appear to be a much rarer form. Compare to three large bowls from this group in institutions worldwide, one in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, illustrated in Song Dynasty Ceramics, London, 2004, pls. 60 and 60a; one in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia, accession no. 205.2006; and another one from the Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke Collection, illustrated in Illustrated Catalogue of Tokyo National Museum, Chinese Ceramics, Tokyo, 1965, p. 72, no. 298.

Cizhou ware bowl, China, Song dynasty (960-1127), stoneware with well drawn incised decoration; external chocolate brown glaze, 6.8 x 17.7 cm. Gift of Dr John Yu and Dr George Soutter 2006, 205.2006 ©  Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia.

Christie's. The Pavilion Sale Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 2 October 2017, Alexandra House, Hong Kong