A VERY RARE GUAN BIRD FEEDER SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTY |

of almost teardrop form, truncated at the narrower end to form a rounded opening, one side of the vessel decorated with a small loop below the rim for suspension, covered overall with a pale greyish-blue glaze glaze suffused with a network of golden-beige crackles, the underside with three delicate spur marks

Collection of the Idemitsu Museum of Art, Tokyo, by repute.
Christie's Hong Kong, 30th April 2001, lot 703.

The bird feeder is in very good condition with the exception of a minute glaze flake and a shallow triangular flake to the rim (0.7 x 0.1cm), and another at the spout (0.8 x 0.5cm).
"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."

Guan ware, the fabled ‘official ware’ specially created for the imperial court of the Southern Song in Hangzhou in south China, is characterised by sophisticated simplicity. The exquisite glaze of the current bird feeder was achieved through gradual application of multiple layers, the distinct crackle probably provoked by a well-controlled cooling process after the last firing, giving the whole piece a gem-like appearance, as if carved out of one boulder of a fine jade-like stone. Song dynasty Guan bird feeders are extremely rare, and only a small number is recorded, including an example illustrated by Rene-Yvon Lefebvre d'Argence, The Hans Popper Collection of Oriental Art, Kodansha International, Tokyo, 1973, no. 127, and another sold at Christie’s New York, 28th October 1977, lot 50. For other closely related Song dynasty ceramic bird feeders, see a pair of Longquan celadon-glazed bird feeders of slightly smaller size, similarly potted with skilfully applied loop handle, included in the exhibition Chinese Art from the Ferris Luboshez Collection, University of Maryland Art Gallery, 1972, cat. no. 119, and sold in our New York rooms, 18th November 1982, lot 85 and again, 16th March 2016, lot 267; and a Longquan guan-type bird feeder sold in our New York rooms, 18th March 2017, lot 1361.