Lot 9. Jianyao Hare's Fur Tea Bowl, Song Dynasty, ca. 960 to 1270 CE, China, Fujian Province. Estimate $1,200 – $1,500. Photo Artemis Gallery

Size: 5" in diameter x 2.75" H (12.7 cm x 7 cm) 

Provenance: Ex-Paul and Louise Bernheimer Collection, Cambridge, MA and Laguna Woods, CA, acquired before 1980.

A lovely Jian tea bowl of a fine form with wonderful streaks and spots called Hare's Fur decoration in the lustrous black glaze. This particular example boasts gorgeous red-brown iron-rich hues all along the rim, cascading down the walls. This is a fine example of one of the most famous black wares created in China is the Jian (Jianyang) ware of the Fujian province, which in Japan is known as Temmoku (a Japanese version of the Chinese term, Tianmu). The rich black glaze of a Jian tea bowl is traditionally characterized by fine linear markings commonly referred to as "hare's fur" or "oil spots." These are crystalline markings formed when iron oxide precipitates during the firing process. In effect, the excess iron oxide transmigrates to the surface of the glaze. Here it collects into streaks or spots of pure metallic iron. Jian tea bowls like this example grew in popularity during the Song dynasty, when tastes for tea changed from steeped green tea to the whisked powder variety. The Northern Song emperor named Huizong (reigned 1100 to 1125) admired them, which also increased their popularity. In addition, the Japanese also admired Hare's Fur bowls and imported them during the 12th century. This technique was adopted in Japan and called Temmoku.

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