The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Teabowl with Tortoiseshell Glaze

1100s–1200s

China, Jiangxi Province, Southern Song dynasty

(1127–1279)
Brown-glazed stoneware with "tortoiseshell" pattern, Jizhou ware
Overall: 5.9 x 11.5 cm (2 5/16 x 4 1/2 in.)
Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift 2020.177
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The Jizhou kiln site is designated as one of fifty-one Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Jiangxi province.

Description

This teacup with a so-called tortoiseshell glaze is a fine example of southern ware from Jizhou, where potters specialized in brown splashed glazes sometimes resembling partridge feathers or tortoise shells. The variety of dark glazes and vessel types produced by the Jizhou kilns are evidence of the popularity of black ware at the time. Jizhou kiln potters competed with the Jian kilns which produced almost exclusively teacups, such as the Black-Glazed Teabowl (CMA 2020.176) and the Black-Glazed Teabowl with Incised Characters (CMA 2020.175).
  • 1970–2008
    Family of Grace Chu, Hong Kong
    2008
    (K.Y. Fine Art, Hong Kong, sold to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Keithley)
    2008–2020
    Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley, Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2020–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Von Spee, Clarissa. "Chinese Ceramics and Works on Paper." In The Keithley Collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art, edited by Heather Lemonedes Brown, 194–229. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 2022. Mentioned and Reproduced: pp. 204–205; Mentioned: pp. 259–261
  • Impressionism to Modernism: The Keithley Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 11, 2022-January 8, 2023).
  • {{cite web|title=Teabowl with Tortoiseshell Glaze|url=false|author=|year=1100s–1200s|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2020.177