AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE GUANYAO BARBED PEAR-SHAPED VASE SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTY |

the baluster body elegantly rising from a splayed stepped foot to a waisted neck and a gently flared lipped rim, the body divided into six lobes of bracket foliations, covered overall with a greyish blue-green glaze suffused with a dense network of light beige crackles, the unglazed foot rim fired to a reddish-brown colour, Japanese wood box

Good condition with mouth warp and a few minute glaze flakes to body, and kiln chips to foot ring.
"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 extraordinary vase, modelled with generous proportions marked by well-defined barbed outlines, is an extremely rare embodiment of the ideals of Song (960-1279) court aesthetics in its understated simplicity that veils the depth of expertise and skill required in creating such a vessel. The grey body that has fired a dark purplish brown along the unglazed footring and is vaguely perceptible where the soft crackled grey-green glaze thins is characteristic of Southern Song guanyao ware. The full and barbed form of this pear-shaped vase is extremely rare and no closely related example appears to be recorded although it bears similar characteristics with the more commonly seen guanyao lobed vases that were created by vertical moulding in two halves, such as one from the Maxwell Vos collection, sold in our London rooms, 13th March 1973, lot 171; and another sold in these rooms, 27th October 1992, lot 20.

Compare also a slightly smaller Southern Song dynasty vase of similar form but modelled with a more pronounced barbed rim and footring, attributed to the Longquan kilns, now housed in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum.