A 'QINGBAI' LOBED EWER AND COVER SONG DYNASTY

well-potted with an eight-lobed body rising to a tall cylindrical neck flaring at the rim, set on one side with a slender, curving spout opposite a strap handle with a small ring at the top corresponding to a ring on the circular concave fitted cover with a floral bud knop, decorated with a low horizontal ridge at the base of the trumpet neck, an incised band just below the rim, a lightly incised series of lines around the mid-section of the body and a leaf-form freely carved at the base of the spout, covered overall with a transparent pale blue glaze pooling to a darker tone within the recesses, the base and footrim unglazed, Japanese wood box 

The cover with two small chips and a flake to inner rim; the glazed section with an iron spot. The rim of the ewer with three consolidated hairline cracks. The foot with chips and an iron stained kiln adhesion at the unglazed base.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Inspired by Near and Middle Eastern glass and metal prototypes, this porcelain ewer is a fine example of one of the best and most classic of Qingbai wares. A related ewer was excavated from a Song tomb at Yanshan near Shaowu in Fujian province, and is illustrated in Kaogu, 1981:5, pl. 11, fig. 8. Published examples of this form include one from the Yokogawa collection in Illustrated Catalogues of Tokyo National Museum, vol. 1, no. 378; another in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 417; a third in Song Ceramics from the Kwan Collection, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1994, pp. 272-3, no. 118; one in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London is illustrated by Rose Kerr, Song Dynasty Ceramics, London, 2004, p. 96-97, no. 97; and another in the British Museum, London in Qingbai Ware: Chinese Porcelain of the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, 2002, pp. 120-121, no. 61. A ewer of similar slender proportions was sold at Bonham's Hong Kong, 9th October 2015, lot 212.