A GOOD 'DING' 'DOUBLE FISH' BOWL NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY

the thinly potted deep curved and lobed sides rising from a short straight foot to an everted indented rim, the interior freely incised with a 'double fish' design and covered overall in an ivory-white glaze pooling in tears down the exterior   

The bowl is in good overall condition with the exception of: minor rim fritting. Several pin-head iron spot imperfection to the glaze on the interior and exterior. Three glaze pulls (ca. 0.4-0.6cm) to the exterior. It has very light surface scratching and rubbing to the glaze particularly to the centre. The colour is of a slightly warmer ivory 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."

Large and deep bowls of this elegant hexafoil form, made at the 'Ding' kilnsite at Quyang in Ding county, Hebei province, are rare although one which compares most favourably to the present bowl is published in the Illustrated Catalogue of Sung Dynasty Porcelain in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, Ting Ware and Ting-type Ware, Taipei, 1973, pl. 46. A similar but slightly smaller bowl with the fish swimming next to each other in the same direction, excavated from the 'Ding' kilnsite is reproduced by Jan Wirgin, Sung Ceramic Designs, Stockholm, 1970, fig. 34.6; another, is published in John Ayers, The Seligman Collection of Oriental Art, vol. II, London, 1964, pl. XXXI, fig. D77; and one from the Eumorfopoulos collection is included in R. L. Hobson, The George Eumorfopoulos Collection, vol. III, London, 1926, pl. 45, fig. C149.  A related bowl was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 23rd May 1978, lot 14; and another of slightly larger dimensions was sold in our New York rooms, 6th May 1980, lot 163.

The design of the 'double fish' is highly auspicious in China and represents the wish for marital blessing, many children and an abundance of luck. Fish are known to swim in pairs and thereby symbolise the harmonious union between husband and wife. They are also admired for their great reproductive power and are symbols of fertility and many offsprings.