Cleveland Museum of Art

Black Glazed Teabowl

Date

1100s–1200s

Medium

Stoneware with opaque dark brown glaze, Jian ware

Culture

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

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This teabowl exhibits a shiny almost mirror-black, thick glaze that runs down from the mouth showing fine, bluish-brown streaks around the rim. The Northern Song dynasty emperor Huizong (徽宗, reigned 1100–1126) once referred to the markings as “hare’s fur.” The emperor also remarked that Jian bowls should be deep and wide to allow tea powder to be whisked sufficiently in the bowl. The contrast between the tea’s white foam and the dark glaze was appreciated by connoisseurs. The thick walls and conical shape of the bowls were ideal for keeping tea hot and frothy.

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