Cleveland Museum of Art

Tea Bowl

Date

1100s–1200s

Medium

Stoneware with black “hare’s fur” glaze and metal-bound rim, Jian ware

Culture

China, Fujian province, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Due to its exceptional size, this Fujian tea bowl is rather rare. The enjoyment of Jian ware rests with the glaze transmutation due to iron in the glaze, which developed into reddish-brown streaks and spots against a rich black glaze after firing. Connoisseurs called these iron formations "hare’s fur" marks, and the ware was very popular with the tea cultures in China and Japan. The reddish-brown streaks and spots have been affectionately termed "hare's fur" among connoisseurs.

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