Bowl thumbnail 1
Bowl thumbnail 2
+5
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Bowl

Bowl
960-1127 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bowl is an example of the Yaozhou wares typical of the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127). While the wares produced at the Yaozhou kiln complex enjoyed popularity from the end of the Tang dynasty (618-906) through to the beginning of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), this bowl exhibits the olive green glaze and dense floral designs common to the Yaozhou wares of the Northern Song period.

Carving was an important method of surface decoration in Yaozhou wares. This dish began with a smooth body, partially dried (or ‘leather hard’). Using an angled tool, the floral pattern was carved out of the surface in sloping grooves. The glaze was then applied, pooling in the crevices and laying thinly on raised areas. Through firing, the pooled areas grew darker in colour and the thinly glazed areas more transparent, thus creating illusion of light and shadows in the surface design.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBowl
Materials and techniques
Stoneware, carved
Brief description
Bowl, carved and glazed stoneware, Yaozhou ware, China, Northern Song dynasty, 960-1127
Physical description
Bowl with carved peony design, Yaozhou ware.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 21.8cm
  • Height: 6.5cm
Styles
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee
Subject depicted
Summary
This bowl is an example of the Yaozhou wares typical of the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127). While the wares produced at the Yaozhou kiln complex enjoyed popularity from the end of the Tang dynasty (618-906) through to the beginning of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), this bowl exhibits the olive green glaze and dense floral designs common to the Yaozhou wares of the Northern Song period.

Carving was an important method of surface decoration in Yaozhou wares. This dish began with a smooth body, partially dried (or ‘leather hard’). Using an angled tool, the floral pattern was carved out of the surface in sloping grooves. The glaze was then applied, pooling in the crevices and laying thinly on raised areas. Through firing, the pooled areas grew darker in colour and the thinly glazed areas more transparent, thus creating illusion of light and shadows in the surface design.
Bibliographic references
  • Kerr, Rose. Song Dynasty Ceramics. London: V&A Publications, 2004. p. 54, nos. 49 and 49a.
  • Lu p.320
Collection
Accession number
C.17-1935

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 25, 2005
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest