BOWL, Pale celadon, Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE)

A pale celadon bowl from the Song dynasty.

The bowl has a shallow, open form with a slightly thickened rim and a neatly finished profile.
The glaze is predominantly white with a faint bluish cast characteristic of pale celadon. The interior shows a soft, lustrous glaze, while the exterior displays a pale gray-blue coating overlain by reddish soil encrustations likely resulting from burial.

Qingbai, or pale celadon, is a white-bodied ceramic that was produced in abundance at Jingdezhen during the Song dynasty.
Rather than a pure white, its glaze carries a faint bluish cast, giving it a cool translucency distinct from white porcelain. This bowl, too, is undecorated, relying on glaze and form to make its statement. The gentle undulation of the rim and the calm expanse of pale whiteness across the interior convey the succinct elegance characteristic of Song ceramics.

There are small iron spots and glaze irregularities in the interior, and the glazed surface shows fine abrasions and kiln marks.
Around the footring the body is exposed, with remnants of reddish-brown clay adhering. Fine, hairline crack-like lines are visible on part of the exterior, but overall the piece retains a composed, well-preserved condition characteristic of an antique ceramic.

It may also serve as a stand for Chinese tea or sencha.