A rare and large Jian black-glazed temmoku bowl Northern Song Dynasty | 北宋 建窰烏金釉大盞

Black-glazed tea bowls produced from the Jian kiln, present-day Jianyang county of Fujian province, were classic vessels for tea consumption in the Song dynasty. The intrinsic qualities of Jian bowls made them particularly suited for tea preparation and enjoyment. In size and form they were comfortable to hold. Their heavy potting had an insulating effect, keeping the tea inside hot while protecting the fingers from the heat. Their speckled black glazes subtly imbued with the spectral coloration of refracted light heightened the aesthetic experience of a well-formed white froth. Additionally, Jian bowls were made in the same province as the empire’s prized teas, providing another link between the vessel and its contents.