NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY (960-1127)

This exceptional bowl is a classic example of the finest Song dynasty Ding ware, so admired by the Imperial court. Its glossy ivory glaze perfectly complements the fine-textured white body, while the refined decoration complements its elegant form. The lobed form, almost certainly derived from metalwork, is one that provided a significant test for its potter, when combined with carved decoration. Indeed the technique used for the carved and incised design on this bowl provides an excellent demonstration of how well this subtle decoration can be applied to a white body under an essentially colourless glaze. The ceramic artist held his knife at an angle to obtain a sharp and a graded edge to each stroke, and has often added a secondary parallel line to strokes he wished to emphasise. To depict the water he used a comb-like tool to produce thin parallel lines simulating the ripples on the lotus pool.

While ducks on a pond with aquatic plants is a popular motif on Northern Song Ding ware dishes, the most usual scheme for the design is with two ducks, one above the other in the same orientation. Examples of these were included in the exhibition, Decorated Porcelains of Dingzhou, White Ding wares from the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2014, pp. 123-126, nos. II.73 - II.76 and p. 128, no. II.78. On the current bowl, however, the interior lobes are each decorated with a lotus spray alternating with a swimming duck. This arrangement of motifs is exceptionally rare and appears to be unique. A similarly carved six-lobed bowl, without the swimming ducks, dating to the Jin period was also included the National Palace Museum exhibition, and illustrated, op. cit., p. 84, no. II.39.