NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY (960-1127)

This is a classic example of the kind of fine Ding ware that found favour with the Northern Song elite. Ding-type bowls of larger size with freely incised lotus sprays and combed details are found in both the Palace Museum in Beijing and National Palace Museum, Taipei. Two from the Qing Court Collection are illustrated in Porcelain of the Song Dynasty, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1996, pls. 47 and 55; two in the National Palace Museum Collection in Taipei are illustrated in Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of Ting Ware White Porcelain, Taipei, 1987, pls.28 and 29. Another of large size in the Ataka Collection is illustrated in Toji Taikei, vol. 37, pl. 78; one in the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, was included in the exhibition White Porcelain of Ding Yao, Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, Tokyo, 1983, Catalogue no. 118, the Nezu Institute of Fine Arts exhibition also featured bowls with similar lotus designs on the interior and plain exterior, ibid., Catalogue nos. 119-121; a related bowl is illustrated in Selected Chinese Ceramics from the Han to Qing Dynasties, Chang Foundation, Taipei, 1990, pl. 23.