438 - A CHINESE IRON RUST TEA BOWL

A CHINESE IRON RUST TEA BOWL Dimensions: Height 5,5 cm Wide 11,5 cm Depth 11,5 cm Weight: 97 grams A small Chinese stoneware tea bowl of conical form, rising from a narrow circular foot to a broad, slightly everted rim. The interior and exterior are covered with a deep dark-brown to black glaze enlivened by irregular russet and iron-coloured splashes. The contrasting tones form broken vertical and clustered markings, particularly visible around the sides and across the well. A lighter brown line traces the rim, while the underside reveals the small foot and a more restrained glaze treatment. The simple shape focuses attention on the interaction between the dark ground and the lively effects of the glaze during firing. Such dramatic iron-rich surfaces are closely associated with the wider tradition of Chinese tea ceramics.