A RARE 'DINGYAO' BALUSTER VASE AND COVER NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY

the body of elegant baluster form, rising from a short spreading foot to a rounded shoulder and short straight neck set with four cog-shaped handles, carved around the exterior with two large bands of overlapping pendant lotus petals, all under a translucent ivory glaze stopping neatly around the foot and pooling to a deeper tone, the flat cover surmounted by a stalk-shaped knop, fitted wood box

Christie's London, 20/21st June 1984, lot 77.

The baluster vase is in good overall condition with the exception of: a 2x3 cm wide three-pointed hairline star crack around the lower part of the body. There are three pin head iron spot imperfections to the glaze of the body and a small area of scratching to the glaze on the shoulder. The colour of the glaze is of a slightly more greenish tone than the illustration suggests.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

'Ding' vases are extremely rare, the kilns having produced mainly bowls and dishes. The execution of carving on the present vase is particularly fine, with the overlapping lotus petals deeply incised in a free manner to allow the fine translucent ivory glaze to pool and highlight the decoration. The form of the vase is also unusual, although a slightly larger vase of closely related shape with four right-angled handles around the shoulder, carved with the same design but the petals facing upwards, in the Percival David Foundation, is illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 12, Tokyo, 1977, pl. 135.

The four cog-shaped handles around the shoulder are also rarely seen although they can be found on a plain octagonal 'Ding' vase included in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelain of the Song Dynasty (I), Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 37. Another white-glazed octagonal vase with similar pierced cog-shape handles, exhibited at the Orangerie des Tuileries, Paris, was sold at Christie's London, 12th October 1970, lot 84, and again, 5th April 1976, lot 1.

See two 'Ding' vases of this form, both decorated with a boldly carved design of peonies and a band of spiralling petals around the shoulder, as seen on the present vase, one from the City Art Gallery, Bristol, included in the exhibition Mostra d'Arte Cinese, Palazzo Ducale, Venice, 1954, cat. no. 539, and the other from the F. Schiller collection exhibited at the Ausstellung Chinesischer Kunst, Berlin, 1929, cat. no. 606.