A large Chinese cizhou guan Song dynasty 960-1279 AD, the ovoid body rising from a tapering base to a broad everted neckrim, decorated with a rich deep brown glaze and carved with an elaborate scroll of flowering peony, concentric bands and further foliate and stiff leaf borders, revealing the pale body beneath, 29.5cm.

Provenance: the collection of Andrew Williams Esq., Oxfordshire. Purchased from Sotheby's, London, 8th November 2006, lot 61.

Cf. Rare Treasure in Shanxi Museum, p.184, where a guan of similar design is illustrated.