Of nearly conical shape, but the sides are slightly rounded rising to a rolled rim. The high-fired body is white and covered in a transparent glaze appearing darker where it’s thicker. The base and lowest part of the body are unglazed, and the exposed clay has turned to a buff colour in the firing process. This type of bowl was fired from high Tang period up to Five Dynasties. This example was most probably produced by the Xing or Ding kilns in Hebei. The relatively warm glaze appearance might point to a Ding origin.
Period: Tang dynasty / Five dynasties (9th-10th Century)
Size: Diameter 21.2 cm, height 7.1 cm
Condition: Very good condition, wear/scratches and firing flaws, no cracks or repairs found under UV-light. The bowl gives a nice, high ring tone when tapped.
Provenance: From a Swedish collection
SKU: 262
References: Similar bowls have been found in the excavations of the Xing kilns sites (1987-2014). Several are illustrated in Xing Kiln: 2 volumes, edited by Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology et al., Beijing, Science Press, 2021, plate 95 and 99.
For Ding kiln examples, see Chinese Ding Ware, Chen Wenzeng, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Fine Arts Publishing House, 2014., Figure 11-23 (for shape and design).
See also related bowl from the Kempe collection in 'Hsing-Yao and Ting-Yao: An Investigation and Description of some Chinese T'ang and Sung White Porcelain in the Carl Kempe and Gustaf Lindberg Collections', Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, vol. 25, 1952, plates 7-8 (last two pictures)
More info: Northern White Ware
