Black Glazed Teabowl
Unknown Artist
1100s–1200s
Medium
Stoneware with opaque dark brown glaze, Jian ware
Dimensions
{"overall":{"height":0.053,"width":0.14}}
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift
Accession Number
2020.176
About this artwork
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 con...