J Lam & Sons

About J Lam & Sons

Josephine Lam (J. Lam) embarked on her journey into the world of antiques over two decades ago along the storied lanes of Hollywood Road in Hong Kong, a district renowned for its rich tapestry of art and history.

With an eye for timeless beauty and a deep reverence for craftsmanship, she has since cultivated an esteemed clientele across the UK and Europe. Her curated collections reflect a refined sensibility, seamlessly blending Asian heritage with Western elegance.

In recent years, she has extended this journey into a cherished family heritage, working closely alongside her sons to continue the legacy with passion, integrity, and a shared dedication to the art of collecting.

Reflecting this new chapter, the business once known as J. Lam and Co. Now proudly carries the name J. Lam and Sons.

This finely moulded Liao dynasty sancai-glazed dish is a rare and elegant example of northern Chinese ceramic production during the Khitan Liao period. Of square form with gently barbed sides, the dish is richly decorated in amber, green, and cream sancai glazes, the luminous colours pooling attractively within the moulded contours of the design.

At the centre is a raised floral medallion surrounded by stylised foliate motifs framed within geometric compartments, all rendered in high relief with remarkable clarity and vitality. The softly undulating rim further enhances the sculptural quality of the piece, while the contrasting sancai glazes create a vivid interplay of colour and texture characteristic of Liao ceramic aesthetics.

The dish reflects the continued development of Tang sancai traditions in northern China, interpreted through the bold decorative vocabulary and robust modelling associated with Liao dynasty ceramics. Pieces of this type are admired for their lively glazing effects, architectural symmetry, and strong ornamental presence.

Width: 12.6 cm.

Provenance:
Private Taiwanese collection.

Exhibited:
Good Fortune Throughout History: Black Glaze and Porcelain from Tzu-chou and Ji-chou Kilns, National Museum of History, Taipei, 2004, exhibition no. Zhan 146.

Published:
Cheng Qiren, Good Fortune Throughout History: Black Glaze and Porcelain from Tzu-chou and Ji-chou Kilns, Taipei: National Museum of History, 2004, catalogue no. 146, p. 21.

This finely sculpted Tang dynasty white pottery horse and riderexemplifies the elegance and precision of Tang ceramic artistry. The horse stands confidently on a rectangular base, its muscular body, arched neck, and forward-tilting ears capturing the noble bearing so admired in Tang equestrian culture. The rider sits upright in a calm, composed posture, her hair tied in a high topknot, dressed in a closely fitted tunic, evoking the dignity of a Tang lady.

The figure is made from buff-white pottery with smooth surfaces and subtle contours. Though originally painted, most of the pigments have faded, leaving faint traces that suggest once-vivid detailing. The minimalist aesthetic that remains highlights the purity of form and the sculptural sensitivity of Tang potters.

Horse and rider figures such as this were widely admired during the Tang period, when horses symbolised military power, elite status, and cosmopolitan exchange via the Silk Road. This piece stands out for its refined modelling, quiet strength, and the lasting beauty of its pale ceramic surface.

Height : 39.5cm.

Provenance:English Private Collection.