SONG-JIN DYNASTY, 12TH-13TH CENTURY

‘Oil spot’ glazes were invented at the Jian kilns in Fujian province in the Southern Song dynasty, but black wares were made as early as the 10^th century in the late Five Dynasties-early Northern Song period. By applying an iron-rich slip to the stoneware body and covering it with an iron-rich glaze, potters create the distinctive ‘oil-spot’ decoration. During the firing process, the glaze melts and separates, allowing an iron-rich layer to bubble to the surface, forming the dramatic and lustrous design characteristic of this technique. The rim on this unusual bowl was dressed in white to mimic the metal bands that were often affixed to rims of upper-class wares such as Ding ware. While it is not uncommon to find dark-glazed bowls of conical form with white rims, it appears to be rarer to find a rounded bowl with a white rim. A similar, white-rimmed bowl was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 29 November 2024, lot 1326.

The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. P123h96 is consistent with the dating of this lot.