A RARE WHITE-WARE SAWTOOTH-RIM DISH
Five Dynasties
Finely potted of conical shape with shallow, rounded sides, the mouth rim with sawtooth edge, the interior and exterior covered in an even ivory-white glaze stopping unevenly above the foot revealing the white body. 13.2cm (5 1/4in) diam.
Footnotes:
五代 白釉花口碗

Provenance: Priestley and Ferraro, London, no. 2249 (label)
John E. Bodie OBE (1930-2023), London

Exhibited: Priestley and Ferraro, Chinese and Korean Ceramics and Works of Art, 2018, no. 3 and Front Cover.

來源： Priestley & Ferraro 藝廊，倫敦，編號2249（據標籤）
大英帝國官佐勳章獲勳人John E. Bodie(1930-2023)，倫敦

展覽： Priestley & Ferraro，《Chinese and Korean Ceramics and Works of Art》，2018年，編號3及封面

The present bowl is very rare as no identical examples seem to be known in public collections. However, the potters working at the Ding kilns in Quyang and the Xing kilns in Lincheng, both located in Hebei province, were engaged in experimentation during the late Tang and Five Dynasties period. They explored innovative rim designs, crafting dishes with serrated or petal-shaped edges, as well as those adorned with three, four, five, or even more lobes of varying configurations. This bowl should be viewed within this historical context. However, with its forty-eight intricately hand-cut notches, the cost of production would likely have been prohibitively high. Given its exceptional quality, it is highly probable that it originated from either the Ding or Xing kilns, although pinpointing the exact origin remains somewhat ambiguous.

Compare with a related xing white glazed bowl displaying a scalloped rim, Five Dynasties, which was excavated from a tomb Jiangsu Province, dated 933, illustrated in The Complete Works of Chinese Ceramics, vol.6, Shanghai, 2000, no.187.

In good condition overall; minor firing imperfections and general surface wear.