Lot 1434. A Cizhou white-glazed petal-carved ewer, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127); 6½ in. (16.5 cm.) high. Estimate USD 20,000 - USD 30,000. Price realised USD 37,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The hemispherical body is crisply carved with overlapping rows of upright lotus petals below similar inverted petals on the canted shoulder from which rises a knife-carved spout opposite the curved strap handle. The ewer is covered with a white slip under a clear glaze that ends irregularly on the slightly flared foot to expose the fine buff ware.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. and Mrs. Marvin L. Gordon.
J.J. Lally & Co., New York, 2003.

Note: A Cizhou-type ewer of very similar form, but with larger, more elaborately carved lotus petals around the exterior, is illustrated by G. Hasebe, Sekai Toji Zenshu - 12 - Sung Dynasty, Tokyo, 1977, p. 237, no. 224. See, also, the Cizhou-type ewer of this form in the Tokyo National Museum carved with stylized peony scroll around the sides illustrated by Y. Mino in Freedom of Clay and Brush through Seven Centuries in Northern China: Tz'u-chou Type Wares, 960-1600 A.D., Indianapolis Museum of Art, 1980, p. 45, pl. 10.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, New York, 21 - 22 March 2013.