LOBED-FLOWER-SHAPED BOWL, Qingbai Ware, c, Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE)

A lobed‑flower bowl in qingbai ware from the Song dynasty, with a russeted, aged patina.

This is a lobed flower-shaped bowl with a diameter of 13.2 cm and a height of 4.5 cm. Its body flares gently outward and is set on a low foot. A small circular step at the center of the interior is a construction often seen in Song-dynasty bowls. The ridges of the lobed rim are not overly pronounced, blending harmoniously with the vessel’s overall soft contours.

Recovered from excavation, the glaze of the Yingqing celadon has flaked away over a wide area, and oxidized soil adheres to the vessel surface. Inside, a faint bluish-white glaze remains, overlain by reddish-brown soil staining, black speckling, and fine particles of earth. When dry, the piece presents a pronounced desiccated, rust-streaked aspect; when filled with water the glaze’s blueness partially returns and an earthy aroma is released.

The exterior displays a blend of pale bluish-white and ochre; soil encrustation and areas of glaze loss are evident around the footring. From the interior well to the exterior, it shows the characteristic roughness of excavated wares, yet its lobed-flower profile remains plainly intact.

It would also be appealing as a small water basin for floating flowers, or reimagined as a vessel for holding stems and foliage. When water settles into the russeted, weathered surface, the contrast between the dry earthen tones and the pale bluish traces of glaze softens, producing a quiet, contemplative scene.

The glaze is abraded and shows extensive flaking, with encrusted oxidized earth and surface wear. Around the footring there are soil deposits and areas of damage. This is a Song-dynasty Yingqing celadon lobed-flower bowl, bearing a rust-browned patina.