Page 112 - Christie's London Fine Chinese Ceramics Nov. 2019

A Rare Song Dynasty Carved Lacquer Bowl

Rosemary Scott, Senior International Academic Consultant, Asian Art

This bowl is a very rare example of a Song dynasty lacquer bowl with Kokusi), who arrived in Kamakura in 1279 and became the frst abbot in
carved foral decoration. While excavated examples of Song dynasty carved the Engaku-ji. As the monk arrived in the last year of the Song dynasty,
lacquer are rare, a piece was published as early as 1957 (see Shi Shuqing, the lacquers may be assumed to have been made in the late Southern
Qi lin zhi xiaolu (A short note on lacquer inscriptions), Wenwu, No. 7, 1957, Song period. In 1363 an inventory of the more important works of art in
pp. 56-7. Unfortunately, the 1957 report in Wenwu only illustrated a rubbing the collection of the Hōjō regents of Kamakura, Butsu-nichi-an kōmotsu
of the design on the top, but the piece is, nevertheless, interesting for two mokuroku, was compiled by a priest of the Butsu-nichi-an, a sub-temple
reasons. Firstly, it has on the base an inscription reading Zhenghe nian zhi of the Engaku-ji (see Sir John Figgess, ‘Ming and Pre-Ming Lacquer in the
(made in the Zhenghe reign, AD 1111-1118) and secondly on the interior of its Japanese Tea Ceremony’, Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society, vol.
lid is a seal mark reading gong bao (palace treasure), which makes it fairly 37, 1967/69, p. 37-51. This includes details of both carved lacquers and
clear that as early as the beginning of the 12th century carved lacquers were marbled lacquers (xipi literally, rhinoceros hide) - those described as xipi
being made for the Northern Song court. probably included some which would more properly be called tixi (carved
layered lacquers). Although it is not possible to be absolutely certain that
Close examination of the current bowl reveals that although the upper
the pieces still preserved in the Engaku-ji are those brought by Xu Ziyuan
surface of the decoration is black, the overall depth of lacquer through
in 1279, it is extremely likely that they are. Four of the Southern Song
which the decoration is carved is, in fact, made up of alternating layers of red
carved lacquers from the Engaku-ji were included in an exhibition at the
and black lacquer. This is reminiscent of the Song wares with carved linear
Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, Tokyo, in 2004 and are illustrated in The Colors
scrolling decoration, which are often referred to as guri lacquer, but should
and Forms of Song and Yuan China – Featuring Lacquerwares, Ceramics,
more properly be called ‘carved layered lacquer’ in English. The name guri is
and Metalwares, Tokyo, 2004, nos. 80, 92, 94 and 105. Several features,
a Japanese term referring to the designs on the lacquer, which resemble the
including the relatively fatter surface and less rounded edges of the carving
form of a sword pommel. In China this type of lacquer is called tixi ( literally
of foral designs on these Engaku-ji Southern Song pieces, compared to the
carved rhinoceros). These lacquers with carved scrolling designs came to
later Yuan dynasty examples, can also be seen on the current bowl.
prominence in the Song dynasty, and examples were excavated in the 1980s
and 1990s from Southern Song dynasty tombs at Wujin in Jiangsu province In addition, the current bowl has been ftted with metal liners, both on
and at Fuzhou City. Song dynasty lacquer wares with carved designs of the interior of the vessel, and inside the foot ring. As the liners curve over
fowers are much rarer, but may be linked to an important group of Chinese the edges of the mouth rim and foot rim, they would have protected these
lacquers preserved in Japan. vulnerable areas of the precious lacquer from damage. It is also probable
that the metal liner on the interior would have been of beneft if the bowl
Forty-three Chinese lacquers are recorded as being brought to Japan by the
was to be used in association with hot liquids.
Chinese Buddhist monk Xu Ziyuan (1226-1286, known in Japan as Bukkō

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fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.