Art Institute of Chicago

Conical Bowl with Interior of Fish Swimming amid Waves Encircling a Sea Crab and Exterior of Stylized Petals

China

Date

Jin dynasty (1115–1234), 12th century

Medium

Yaozhou ware; stoneware with underglaze molded and carved decoration

Culture

China

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Potters from Yaozhou used a carved mold to decorate the interior of this bowl, making the process of production more efficient. Remarkably, this accelerated approach to decoration did not compromise the beauty of the final product. Inside the bowl, four fishes gracefully encircle a sea creature — either a crab or a squid — amidst the rippling waves. The surface of the bowl is fully covered in a glossy, translucent olive-green glaze. The glaze pools in the recesses, producing a slightly deeper hue that enhances the dynamism and vividness of the motifs. When filled with water or tea, the bowl brings the marine animals to life by creating an illusion of them swimming within the liquid.

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