Bowl
Unknown Artist
late 12th–13th century
Medium
Stoneware with blue glaze ("splashed Jun" ware)
Dimensions
H. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm); Diam. 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Jin (1115–1234)–Yuan (1271–1368) dynasty
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
29.100.208
Art Historical Context
This elegant stoneware bowl, crafted in China during the late 12th to 13th century amid the turbulent transition from the Jin (111–1234) to the Yuan (1271–8) dynasties, the artistry of "splashed Jun" ware. Produced in the kilns of Henan province, Jun ceramics were renowned for their experimental glazes, fired at high temperatures to create unpredictable, mesmerizing effects. Here, a rich blue glaze splashes across the surface, often mingling with subtle purple or lavender hues, evoking the drama of natural landscapes or cosmic phenomena prized in Chinese aesthetics. Measuring just 4⅜ inches h...