JIN DYNASTY (1115-1234)

Open-ware vessels of this large size are rare amongst Ding wares, and posed a particular challenge to the potters and kiln masters. The interior decoration on extant examples of these large bowls is predominantly either fish or lotus, while the exteriors can be plain, decorated with lotus scrolls, or, as in the case of the current bowl, carved with bands of over-lapping petals. It is likely that very few of these large bowls were ever successfully fired, and thus few extant examples have survived into the present day. For one of the most well carved and refined examples of this type, see the Alexander Ding bowl sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 November 2020, lot 3001, which is carved with a lotus scroll on the interior with overlapping petals on the exterior.

The result of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Yeung Shui Sang Laboratory thermoluminescence test dated 18 March 1999, serial number 01708, is consistent with the dating of this lot.