A CIZHOU POTTERY FIGURE OF A BOY WITH A DUCK, SONG TO YUAN DYNASTY
China, 11th-14th century. Well modeled as a young boy wearing a robe enameled in green and red as well as a necklace in golden amber, holding a duck with boldly painted wings in his lap. The boy’s face is neatly detailed with round cheeks and small plump lips, and his hair is tied in three tufted knots.


Provenance:
From an old private collection in the United Kingdom, and thence by descent in the same family. The interior with an old collector’s number, ‘c 204’.

Condition:
Old wear, soil encrustations, and expected firing flaws such as glaze recesses, pitting and dark spots. Obvious losses, chips, and small cracks. The wood base with natural wear, microscopic age cracks, a minor chip and a fine, naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 414.1 g (incl. stand), 310.1 (excl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 16.9 cm (incl. stand), 16 cm (excl. stand)

With an old fitted stand, dating from the Qing dynasty, carved from a single piece of hardwood showing a nice grain, probably huali. (2)


Expert’s note:
The present figure, of which a significant portion was lost to time, has long ago been furnished with a fitted wood stand, which perfectly follows the boy’s proportions and allows him to once again stand upright. This subtle stand, which is barely noticeable as being separate from the figure, shows that this sublime piece of pottery was already highly appreciated (and maybe even loved) long before it came into the previous owner’s possession.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 26 August 2021, lot 1049
Price: HKD 75,600 or approx.
EUR 9,100
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Cizhou painted figure of a lady, Southern Song-Jin dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and manner of painting with similar pose and face. Note the size (24.5 cm) and that the figure is accompanied by a straw-glazed figure from the Tang dynasty.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 16 September 2009, lot 114
Estimate: USD 10,000 or approx.
EUR 13,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare polychrome ‘cizhou’ figure of a boy, Northern Song/Jin dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and manner of painting with similar hair and charmingly plump face. Note this lot is accompanied by a small Cizhou whistle in the shape of a boy.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 19 September 2014, lot 707
Price: USD 47,500 or approx.
EUR 56,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Cizhou polychromed pottery figure of a Luohan, Yuan dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and manner of painting. Note the size (29.2 cm).




宋至元磁州彩繪童子像

中國，十一至十四世紀。小男童穿著紅綠長袍，戴著金色琥珀項鍊，雙手抱著一隻帶有大鴨子。男孩臉頰圓潤，小嘴撅起，頭髮紮成三個辮子。


來源：
英國私人舊藏，在同一家族傳承。內部帶有收藏編號 “c 204”。

品相：
有磨損、泥土結殼以及燒製缺陷，例如釉面凹陷、麻點和黑點。明顯的缺口和小裂紋。木質底座自然磨損、微小的老化裂紋、輕微的缺口和自然包漿。

重量：414.1 克 (含底座)，310.1 克 (不含底座)
尺寸：高 16.9 厘米 (含底座)，16 厘米 (不含底座)

配有一個老支架，可以追溯到清朝，由一整塊硬木雕刻而成，呈現出漂亮的紋理，可能是花梨木。(2)


拍賣比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2021年8月26日，lot 1049
價格：HKD 75,600（相當今日
EUR 9,100
）
描述：宋至金磁州彩繪仕女像及唐淡黃釉陶俑
專家註釋：比較相近的模型、 繪畫風格，以及相似的姿勢和臉部。請注意尺寸 (24.5 厘米) ，該人物旁邊還有一尊唐代黃釉人物。


拍賣比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2009年9月16日，lot 114
估價：USD 10,000（相當今日
EUR 13,000
）
描述：宋至金代磁州彩繪童子像
專家註釋：比較相近的模型、 繪畫風格，以及相似的髮型和臉部。請注意此像旁邊還有一小童像。


拍賣比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2014年9月19日，lot 707
價格：USD 47,500（相當今日
EUR 56,000
）
描述：元磁州窰彩繪羅漢坐像
專家註釋：比較相近的模型和繪畫風格。請注意 尺寸 (29.2 厘米)。