Collection Online as of March 22, 2023
Conical Bowl with Carved Babies and Floral Motif
China, Song dynasty
(960-1279)
Porcelain with pale bluish-white glaze, qingbai ("blue-white") ware
Overall: 7.8 x 20.3 cm (3 1/16 x 8 in.); Diameter: 21.6 cm (8 1/2 in.)
Gift of Donna and James Reid 2017.19
Location
not on view
Description
The conical shape of this bowl is especially suitable for whipping powdered tea, which became popular at court, in monasteries, and in scholarly elite circles during the Southern Song dynasty. The decoration of this bowl was cut with a wooden instrument into the dried clay. This type of white porcelain with a translucent bluish glaze was the direct predecessor of the later blue-and-white porcelains.