PROVENANCE:
Private collection, Japan

Tea drinking became common in the Song dynasty and tea competition also became popular. Teas were judged on their color and the persistence and quality of the bubbles. Dark brown bowls would better set off the white tea bubbles allowing one to note the color and qualities of the tea; so deep cyan hare fur bowls were the most sought after. On the topic of bowls, Song Huizong’s Treatise on Tea explains: “Deep green bowls are the most valuable. The hare lines must be straight, distinct and clear to allow distinguishing the tone of the tea.” Cai Xiang, in the Northern Song’s Chalu explains the degree to which the dark hare glaze bowls were prized at the time: “If the tea is light colored it is best for the bowl to be dark. Jianan fired bowls with dark hare lines are heavier so better hold the temperature of the tea, thus more useful. Tea bowls from other sites are too thin or darkly colored, and none compare with the dark green glazed hare line bowls.”

These tea bowls represent the most classic ceramics produced from the Jian kilns. Remarkable features of tea bowls fired in the Jian Luhuaping kilns include: the rim of the lip turns out and the outer ring pinches in to mark a line used in tea contests. The result is both practical and beautiful, clearly expressing the sublime Song aesthetic. The body is generous, terminating in a shallow ringed base. Glaze at the mouth is thinly applied. The highest quality deep green glaze is applied to both the inside and outside. Fine defined hare lines drop from the top edge toward the bottom radiating together. Glaze expression variation depends greatly on conditions of the kiln room, including temperature, placement of the kiln and other factors. These factors are not controllable by the kiln operator, so each kiln room will produce ceramics with unique characteristics, and the unique qualities of a piece do not depend on the craftsmanship of the glaze. This tea bowl is finely fired and elegantly formed. It shows obvious marks of use so was not excavated from a kiln site.