potted with deep rounded sides rising from a short straight foot to a slightly everted rim, covered overall with a dark black glaze suffused with brown 'hare's fur' streaks. D: 5 in., 12.5 cm   

Provenance: Property of a New Jersey collector 

Note: Bowls of this type were made in large quantities in the Fujian province, yet from literature it is known that the very best quality Jian bowls were carefully selected as tribute from Fujian to the court. Jian teabowls were renowned for their unique suitability for tea drinking their dark glaze contrast the color and foam of tea. The thickness of the glaze helped keep the beverage warm and protected the hands of the drinker against scalding. 

See similar bowls of this type, including one from the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelain of the Song Dynasty (II), Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 204. For a similar example at auction. see Sotheby's New York, March 16, 2016, Sale 9477, Lot 224.

Freeman's. Asian Arts, Sat, Sep 10 2016 10:00 AM