Black-Glazed Russet-Painted Bottle Vase, Northern Song-Jin Dynasty

Lustrous blackish-brown glaze decorated on the exterior with lines of splashes of russet color. This jar features a rounded and voluminous body, with its shoulders gently curving upward to meet the lid. The lid is topped with a small knob-like handle at the center, creating a harmonious and well-balanced overall proportion. Under microscopic magnification, the brown-glazed...

This bowl stands out for its detailed depiction of two fish amid soft spiral waves, bordered by two cranes within the bowl. The design's depth and clarity, from the lifelike portrayal of the landscape to the cranes' meticulously detailed features, render this piece exceptionally unique and rare. Such complex designs on bowls were achieved using a mold, a method initiated at the Ding kilns in the late 11th or early 12th century, enabling heightened precision. These molds, akin to those for metal vessel casting, reflect a shared design aesthetic with contemporary metal objects. Period : Northern Song-Jin dynasty(960~1234) Type : Dingyao Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s, Hongkong Dimension : 19 cm(Height) x 8cm(Diameter) Reference : 1) Sotheby's Hongkong 29 April 2022 - Important Chinese Art including Jades from the De An Tang Collection and Gardens of Pleasure - Lot 3695, Lot 3603 (Price : 1,890,000 HKD / Type : Closely related) 2) Sotheby's Hongkong 08 October 2019 Important Chinese Art - lot 3612 (Price : 3,000,000 HKD / Type : Related) 3) Sotheby's Hongkong 22 April 2021 - Monochrome III - Lot 30 (Price : 6,000,000-7,000,000 HKD / Type : Related) 4) The MET - Accession Number: 14.40.155 - Bowl with Peonies (Type : Closely Related) * Song Dynasty Ding-Yao Ware Song Dynasty Ding Yao porcelain holds a significant place in Chinese ceramic art, specifically as a type of white porcelain produced during the Song Dynasty. Produced predominantly during the mid to late Song Dynasty, Ding Yao ceramics are renowned for their delicate and intricate features. Ding Yao ceramics were primarily crafted from clay rich in white minerals and fired at high temperatures to achieve a durable and lustrous surface. One distinctive characteristic of this serene white ceramic is the presence of silver or gold-colored splashes of glaze, often created using a mineral called galena. Galena, with its lustrous appearance, was suitable for creating fine patterns and intricate decorations. These ceramics frequently feature delicate carvings, floral motifs, or subtle decorations. While commonly used for utilitarian purposes such as tableware, Ding Yao porcelain also served as a medium for artistic expression, producing many artworks. The production of Ding Yao ceramics was relatively limited, and surviving pieces are considered rare and valuable art pieces...

The jar is covered with a deep, warm blackish-brown glaze. The glaze is smooth and even, with a soft sheen. The foliate rim has a gentle, wave-like design that gives the jar a natur...

The oviform body is divided into few lobes. All covered in a finely crackled pale olive-green glaze. The surface and glaze characteristics are definitive, confirming the authenticity...

Antique Chinese painted pottery standing court lady, with original pigments remaining. Age: China, Northern Wei Dynasty, A.D. 386 - 535 Size: Height 20.4 C.M. / Width 5 C.M. / Depth...

Antique Chinese painted pottery standing court lady, with original pigments remaining. Age: China, Northern Wei Dynasty, A.D. 386 - 535 Size: Height 22.2 C.M. / Width 5.2 C.M. / Dep...

Antique Chinese painted pottery standing court lady, with original pigments remaining. Age: China, Northern Wei Dynasty, A.D. 386 - 535 Size: Height 19.5 C.M. / Width 4 C.M. / Depth...

A remarkable Chinese life sized painted stucco head of a luohan, Song, Liao or Jin Dynasty, circa 11th century, China. The amazingly life-like figure depicts a luohan (sometime spelled lohan), also known as an arhat, one of the original disciples of the Buddha. The elderly man has been molded in stucco with inset glass eyes and painted with idealized, if slightly exaggerated features. The unidentified luohan sports a bald, or perhaps shaved, domed head above a bulging forehead, symbolizing his vast wisdom. The wrinkles in his furrowed brow, and creases around his eyes add to his realism. The learned man stares out wisely from deep set, heavily lidded inlaid glass eyes that catch the light. The luohan has high cheekbones and a prominent jawline. His lips full and pursed as if about to speak. The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly in a faint smile, causing his gaunt cheeks to dimple charismatically. A series of dots above the upper lip indicate he may originally have sported a mustache of real hair. This life sized head with extremely realistic features fits into a very narrow time frame of Chinese Buddhist art. Perhaps the most recognized group of large, finely molded Chinese luohan...