Russet-colored glaze was a specialty of the northern Cizhou kilns during the Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties. It involves glazing an object black, and then applying an extra layer of coloring agent made from banhuashi, an ore high in iron oxide, to add patterns as an adornment. When the vessel is burned at high temperatures, the iron crystals will give the decorative designs their characteristic russet color and mottled appearance. This teabowl is in a shape frequently seen in Song dynasty Jian ware, and these type of teabowls were so popular that both northern and southern kilns manufactured them. This bowl has an inwardly curved mouth, a deep, wide belly, and a round foot. The entire vessel is covered in black glaze, and adorned with elongated stripes of a rusty color that extend from the rim to the bottom, inside and out. The underside of the foot has a finish of purple-black protective glaze, which is an important distinguishing characteristic of Shanxi kilns (or Huairen ware). During the Song dynasty, tea-tasting contests were a very popular pastime, and the southern kilns, such as Jianyao, could not satisfy the huge demand for exquisite tea utensils. Northern kilns picked up the slack, successfully imitating southern styles and design, such as tuhao and tietai. This bowl has a northern flair, combining rustic charm with fine craftsmanship.

MD: 11 cm