On Thursday, a very rare Chinese Ding Bowl from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) was sold for over $4.2 million in an auction at Christie's New York.
According to the auction's press release regarding the auction, the piece, a rare Ding russet-splashed black-glazed conical bowl, was sold for exactly $4,212,500. It is also considered as the most expensive amongst the Chinese ceramics and art pieces currently included in Christie's Asian Art Week, which runs from March 16 to 23.
Only 3 other dark-glazed bowls with russet streaks remain preserved and they are located at the Harvard Art Museum at Cambridge, US, the National Palace Museum in Taipei and the one currently displayed at the US state of Massachusetts.
The Ding bowl is called as such because it was made in Ding county in Hebei province and it is made from kilns. Ding ware is also considered one of the five most important wares made in the Song Dynasty.
According to Olivia Hamilton, a specalist in Chinese Works of Art at Christie's New York, in her statement with Xinhua on Tuesday,
"This vessel is believed to serve high society given its superb quality as the dark-glazed vessels became popular in the Song with the rising popularity of white tea,"
"The tea bowl was served during the tea ceremony: the shape and glossy glaze of the bowl perfectly match the whipped, white tea powder," she adds.
Speaking of the Chinese ceramics market, Hamilton said "the market is always changing. But what is interesting now that we still see a strong demand for Chinese ceramics."
"Market wise, ceramics from a specific period might appeal to a certain group of collectors. At the end of the day, artwork speaks for itself like this bowl," she said.
This is not the first time a Ding ware was sold. In 2013, a Ding bowl with an almost near-white body and ivory glaze was sold for $2.2 million by Sotheby's. It was originally bought for $3 in a yard sale by a New York family.
