A QINGBAI COSMETIC BOX AND COVER NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY

of circular form, the gently domed cover carved with a leafy spray of peony, the interior opened to two flowerheads borne on curved leafy stems interspersed with three miniature cups and saucers, covered overall in a transparent greyish-bluish glaze, Japanese wood box

Mayuyama & Co. Ltd, Tokyo.

Tō Sō meitō ten [Exhibition of Tang-Song Ceramics], Japan Ceramic Society, Tokyo, 1964, cat. no. 149.

Ryūsen Shūhō. Sōgyō shichijū shūnen kinen/Mayuyama: Seventy Years, Tokyo, 1976, vol. 1, pl. 448.

The cover has a 5cm., wide shallow chip to the rim with an associated 4cm., long hairline rim crack, a repaired 2.5cm., rim chip with an associated 3cm., hairline rim crack, the box has three repaired flange chips 2, 6 and 9cm., wide, two repairs, 5 and 7mm., wide to the rim of the smaller cylindrical vessel in the interior and loss to approximately 5cm., of one end of the flower branch and a small loss to the other end of the branch, a 12mm., wide shallow rim chip and light glaze scratching to box and cover.
"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."

A qingbai box of this form and similarly applied on the interior with three cups and leafy stems, excavated from the tomb of the Liu Family in De’anxian county, Jiangxi province and dated 1038, is illustrated in Peng Shifan, Dated Qingbai Wares of the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Hong Kong, 1998, pl. 7; another from the collection of Captain and Mrs V. Bulkeley-Johnson, was included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition The Arts of the Sung Dynasty, London, 1960, cat. no. 217; and a third, was sold at Christie’s New York, 25^th March 1998, lot 161.