Far East, China, Song to Jin Dynasty, ca. 12th to 13th century CE. A finely built and rare Junyao ceramic bowl with steep rounded walls that resolve to a slightly incurved mouth-rim, all covered with a bubble-suffused smoky blue glaze (of a deeper tone on the exterior), a dark brown thinning to almond brown hue at the rim, with a splash of deeper blue on the interior, all supported on a finely finished, unglazed stoneware short foot. Size: 7.5" W x 3.125" H (19 cm x 7.9 cm).

This type of pottery originated in the Jun kilns of Yuzhou City near Lunru County in Henan province during the Northern Song dynasty and continued to be created during the later Jin and Yuan dynasties.

Note: A similar example sold at Christie's Sale 2863, Lot 3501 for HK $620,000 or $80,069.

We have had several people ask why the opening reserves and estimated prices are so low on items where we have shown comparable examples selling many times higher – such as several of the Chinese Song Dynasty vessels. Auctions are a strange phenomenon. We regularly see auction items that are estimated at one price be bid up to 30x the reserve because 2 people badly want the piece. It does not necessarily mean the item is worth that, it means 2 people were willing to pay more than the market value to acquire it. Additionally, the Bernheimer family has instructed us to price the estate at levels that will generate interest and ensure that most of the lots will sell. We believe we have set prices that are very attractive that should guarantee robust bidding. Bidders will have opportunities to obtain fabulous, museum-worthy pieces at prices that are extremely attractive.

Provenance: Ex-Paul and Louise Bernheimer, Cambridge, MA and Laguna Woods, CA, acquired before 1980.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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#111852

Small chip to foot. A few nearly invisible unglazed marks. Overall very, very good indeed!