Southern Song Dynasty Jian Kiln Yaobian Tenmoku Tea Bowl with “Da Song Ming Dao” Inscription (12th–13th Century)

拍品描述

Dimensions: Diameter 13 cm (approx. 5.1 in, approx. 0.43 ft), Height 7.5 cm (approx. 3 in, approx. 0.25 ft); Southern Song Dynasty, 12th–13th CenturyCondition and Provenance: The bowl is preserved in good overall condition, with a lustrous glaze surface and clearly preserved natural yaobian effects. The interior and exterior display remarkable multicolored optical halos created through kiln transformation, together with fine crackle patterns characteristic of Jian ware. The exposed iron-rich foot reveals a dark brown clay body, and the base bears an engraved regular-script inscription reading “Da Song Ming Dao.” Provenance: Private Collection, Hong Kong Description: This exceptional Jian kiln tea bowl features the classic conical tenmoku form, with a slightly inward-curving rim, rounded body, and neatly finished foot. It represents the type of tea bowl highly favored for Song dynasty whisked tea ceremonies. The entire surface is covered with a deep blackish-brown glaze, richly decorated with natural yaobian markings. Inside the bowl, scattered star-like spots appear across the dark glaze, each centered with warm amber crystalline cores that radiate outward into layers of deep blue, silvery gray, and subtle purple iridescence. As the light changes, the surface reveals shifting rainbow-like reflections, creating a dramatic celestial effect reminiscent of stars across the night sky. The exterior is also accented with scattered yaobian flashes, while the glaze surface displays delicate ice-crack style crazing. The foot exposes the dark iron-rich clay body typical of Jian ware, and the engraved “Da Song Ming Dao” inscription adds further historical character. Yaobian Tenmoku represents one of the rarest and most technically challenging categories of Jian ware, valued for its unpredictable natural kiln transformation and regarded as one of the greatest achievements in Chinese ceramic art.

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