北宋 耀州窰醬釉梅瓶

of elegant baluster form sweeping up to a small waisted neck and wide flared galleried rim, applied overall with a matte persimmon-coloured glaze, a lustrous black glaze showing through beneath the persimmon glaze in a large tear drop on one side and in occasional smaller areas around the body or on top of the rim, the recessed base glazed in brown, the underside of the footring left in the rough revealing a pale grey stoneware

The bottle vase is good overall condition. There are some surface scratches to the glaze on one side, more concentrated near the luting line in one area on the reverse, next to the black patch showing underneath the persimmon glaze. There are some typical expected flaws in the body, including a 2 cm gap in the surface by the shoulder on one side. There is a minute nick above the mouth rim by the edge. There are some old chips to the footrim and some typical kiln accretion on the base. The actual colour is consistent, if not slightly less red compared to the catalogue illustration.
"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."

此梅瓶形韻甚罕，可比一略大作例，兩售倫敦蘇富比，於1992年6月9日，編號124；繼售2003年6月12日，編號117。另見一略小例，形制相類，肩略豐，藏東京出光美術館，錄《出光美術館蔵品図錄．中国陶磁》，東京，1987 年，圖版112。亦見一例，藏首爾韓國國立中央博物館，錄《世界陶磁全集》，卷12，東京，1977年，圖版123。再見一例，藏華盛頓賽克勒博物館，展《Hare’s Fur, Tortoiseshell, and Partridge Feathers. Chinese Brown and Black-glazed Ceramics 400-1400》，哈佛藝術博物館，劍橋，1996年，編號24。