Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 145

Bowl

1200-1279 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

China produced many types of green-glazed wares, in shades ranging from olive to grass to grey-blue. Resembling jade, they were admired for their tranquil beauty. They were often used in Buddhist tea ceremonies and meditation rituals.

Although some were made in northern China, green-glazed wares remained a speciality of the south. Green-glazed vessels were exported in large quantities to South-east Asia and the Middle East; this bowl was produced at the Longquan kilns in Zhejiang province, but found in the Philippines. Later European collectors gave these wares the fanciful name of ‘celadon’.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stoneware, carved with green glaze
Brief description
Bowl, stoneware with bluish-green celadon glaze, Longquan ware, Zhejiang, China, Song dynasty, probably 13th century, found in the Philippines
Physical description
Stoneware bowl with bluish-green celadon glaze. It has rounded sides, set on a small tapering foot with concave base. The sides are carved with lotus-petal pattern. The glaze varies from bluish to brownish areas, and shows a pattern of broad crazing.
Dimensions
  • Height: 5.6cm
  • Diameter: 12.1cm
Styles
Gallery label
Celadon bowl, acquired in the Philippines Southern China, Longquan kilns, Southern Song dynasty, 1200 -1279 Museum nos. FE. 47-1975. Given by Sir John Addis KCMG(2009)
Credit line
Given by Sir John Addis, K.C.M.G.
Subject depicted
Summary
China produced many types of green-glazed wares, in shades ranging from olive to grass to grey-blue. Resembling jade, they were admired for their tranquil beauty. They were often used in Buddhist tea ceremonies and meditation rituals.

Although some were made in northern China, green-glazed wares remained a speciality of the south. Green-glazed vessels were exported in large quantities to South-east Asia and the Middle East; this bowl was produced at the Longquan kilns in Zhejiang province, but found in the Philippines. Later European collectors gave these wares the fanciful name of ‘celadon’.
Collection
Accession number
FE.47-1975

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Record createdJanuary 8, 2009
Record URL
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