Dish, Ru ware, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127). Height 2.9 cm, Diameter of mouth 17.1 cm, Diameter of base 9.1 cm; Weight: 220 g. © Shanghai Museum

This dish, elegant and beautiful, is a typical ware of the extant porcelains of Ru Kiln. Known as the first of the five famous kilns in the Song dynasty, Ru Kiln works are extremely delicate in workmanship. The object features fine and smooth paste, mild glaze in various colors including sky blue, powder blue and so on. Ru Kiln began to fire official wares from the period of Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song dynasty. Due to its short firing time, few works were handed down.