NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY, 11TH-12TH CENTURY

It is rare to find a Yaozhou carved bowl of this general peony design with an incised central medallion. Compare, however, the virtually identical Yaozhou bowl sold in our London rooms, 10 December 1990, lot 111. Other comparable Yaozhou bowls carved with similar peony designs, but lacking the central incised medallion, include the example illustrated in The Masterpieces of Yaozhou Ware, Osaka, 1997, p. 51, no. 65; the bowl illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 12, Sung Dynasty, Tokyo, 1977, p. 204, no. 196; and the bowl from the collection of Robert E. Barron III, sold at Christie's New York, 30 March 2005, lot 273.