Tea bowl, second half 16th century. Unidentified, Korean, Joseon period. Porcelain with transparent, pale blue glaze. H: 8.0 W: 16.0 cm. Jinju, Korea. Gift of Charles Lang, Freer F1902.68 © 2014 Smithsonian Institution

This bowl was probably made to order at a kiln in southeastern Korea to be exported to Japan for use as a tea bowl. It represents the earliest phase of such ordering as identified by archaeological research. Its shape is that of a tea bowl used in Japan, not of a Korean tableware bowl converted to use as a tea bowl.