A RARE SMALL HENAN BLACK-GLAZED RUSSET-SPLASHED YUHUCHUNPING, NORTHERN SONG TO JIN DYNASTY China, 960-1234. The pear-shaped body rising from a short spreading foot to a waisted neck with a broad, everted rim. Covered to the exterior and the interior rim with a lustrous black-brown glaze thinning to mushroom at the rim, liberally applied with russet streaks to the body and neck, the glaze stopping irregularly and attractively pooling above the foot to reveal the grayish-buff body.

Provenance: Nicholas Pitcher, London, United Kingdom. Nicholas Sotheby Pitcher was formerly a director of Christie's and led the Oriental Department in South Kensington from 1976 to 1990, after which he left to set up his own business, specializing in early Chinese pottery and bronzes, and later Chinese works of art.
Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear, some traces of use including shallow surface scratches, some firing flaws, including glaze recesses and open bubbles, the rim with minor fritting, the foot with a minor chip.

Weight: 324.2 g
Dimensions: Height 15 cm

Expert’s note: While the form and decoration of the present vase can be found in several examples of larger size, this variation of smaller size seems to be quite rare.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related Henan black-glazed russet-splashed vase, also dated Northern Song to Jin dynasty, 22.6 cm high, at Sotheby’s London in Important Chinese Art on 10 May 2017, lot 190, sold for GBP 38,750.

北宋金時期河南窯黑釉鐵鏽斑玉壺春瓶
中國，960-1234年。撇口、細頸、垂腹、圈足。瓶内外施有光澤的黑褐色釉，邊緣變薄，止於足部，圈足露胎。瓶身和頸部赤褐色的斑紋。

來源：英國倫敦Nicholas Pitcher收藏。Nicholas Sotheby Pitcher 1976年至1990年間曾是南肯辛頓佳士得經理，領導東方藝術部。之後他自立門戶，專門經營中國早期陶器和青銅，以及晚期的工藝美術品。
品相：狀況極好，輕微的舊時磨損，一些使用痕跡，包括表面淺劃痕，一些燒製瑕疵如釉面凹陷和開放式氣泡，輪輞有輕微燒結，足部有輕微磕損。

重量：324.2 克
尺寸：高15 厘米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件北宋金時期的黑釉鉄鏽斑玉壺春瓶，高22.6厘米, 見倫敦蘇富比Important Chinese Art 2017年5月10日, lot 190, 售價GBP 38,750。