A RARE 'CIZHOU' SGRAFFIATO VASE NORTHERN SONG – JIN DYNASTY

the pear-shaped body rising from a splayed foot to a tapering neck and a flat everted mouth-rim, the exterior carved through the dark brown glaze to the creamy-white slip underneath with a dense design, the main body with a wide geometric frieze of overlapping hexagonal panels enclosing trefoil clouds against a striated ground, all below five bands encircling the neck, two detailed with wavy lines and foliate scrolls respectively, the unglazed footring and recessed base revealing the pale grey body

Sotheby's London, 17th November 1999, lot 731.
J.J. Lally & Co., New York.

As visible in the catalogue photo, approximately 1/3 of the mouth has been restored. There are also chips to the footrim (the largest measuring 3 cm), and other firing irregularities. The result of a thermoluminescence test is consistent with the dating of this lot (Oxford TL test certificate no. P199u52).
"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."

This vase is very rare for both its elegant pear-shaped form, which is seldom found among vases made at 'Cizhou' kilns, and its remarkably well-executed design. While vases made in the sgraffiato technique, in which the design is carved through a black slip covering a white slip beneath, were made at various kilns in Northern China from the 11th through the 12th century, they were commonly decorated with large flower scrolls.

No other closely related vase appears to have been published and it is difficult to attribute this piece to any of the known 'Cizhou' kilns. The form is also rarely seen, but is known, for example from a Yaozhou vase formerly in the Eumorfopoulos Collection, illustrated in John Ayers, Far Eastern Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1980, col. pl. 29.