Lot 65. A  ‘Longquan’ celadon ‘Lotus’ bowl, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279); 17.4cm., 6 7/8 in. Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 GBP. Lot sold 16,250 GBP. Photo: Sotheby’s

the deep rounded sides rising from a short tapering foot , carved around the exterior with overlapping lotus leaves and covered ovarall with a soft even bluish-green glaze.

Provenance: Collection of Francisco Capelo.

Literature: Francisco Capelo et. al., Forms of Pleasure. Chinese Ceramics from Burial to Daily Life, London, 2009, pl. 64.

Note: A slightly larger bowl of this type is illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. one, London, 1994, pl. 539, where the author notes that lotus bowls were made during the Song and Yuan dynasties, however, the early examples such as the present bowl, are more carefully potted, carved, glazed and fired (see p. 290). The carving of the lotus petal is especially deep and crisp with later examples treating the design as a simple raised rib as if adding a quick finishing touch to the exterior.

Compare another related bowl of slightly smaller dimensions sold in these rooms, 9th June 2004, lot 178; one from the collection of George Debatz and exhibited at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, sold at Christie’s New York, 30thNovember 1983, lot 337; and a third example from the Eugene Bernat collection, sold in our New York rooms, 7th November 1980, lot 145. See also a smaller bowl published in Celadon from Longquan Kilns, Taipei, 1998, pl. 133; and one included in Longquan qingci, Beijing, 1966, pl. 28.