The inside and outside of this small
black bowl is covered with a thick, viscous glaze. The glaze of the rim is thin while the
outer wall is only partially covered, exposing the dark, thick body towards the
constricted base. Light, vertical, pin-like impurities formed an irregular pattern as the
glaze ran down the body and collected in the middle. Sung dynasty scholars compared this
type of glaze to the appearance of the fur of a black hare, hence the name "hare
fur" striations. This
type of vessel was used for drinking fine tea in the Sung dynasty. In the Northern Sung,
partially fermented tea cakes were ground into powder, which was placed in bowls such as
this. Immersed in boiling water, the result was teach with fine, white frothy bubbles,
which not only revealed the quality to connoisseurs, but in contrast with the black glaze
here, would have enhanced the aesthetics of drinking tea. For practical purposes, the
thick walls of the bowl also reduced the risk of burning one's hands from the hot tea,
allowing the aroma to be appreciated more. Thus, bowls in black glaze such as this, a
product of Chien-yang in Fukien province, were considered some of the finest utensils for
the art of tea. Records also show that this ware was also admired and used at court in the
Northern Sung.
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