Chinese Jian Ware Hare’s Fur Tea Bowl, attributed to Song #5369

width: approx. 12.5cm (4 29⁄32in)
height: approx. 6.5cm (2 9⁄16in)
weight: 230g

This piece is a black-glazed tea bowl known as a "hare’s fur" type, attributed to the Jian ware kilns of the Song dynasty (960–1279) in China. The bowl features a lustrous black glaze with characteristic streaks resembling the fur of a hare, created by the flow of iron-rich glaze during firing. The inside of the bowl exhibits these streaks radiating from the center outward, with a distinct contrast between the dark core and the brownish rim. The outer surface shares this two-tone appearance, with a gradient transition from black to reddish-brown. The unglazed foot and base, which expose the coarse, iron-rich clay body, reflect typical firing methods of the time. The surface shows minor signs of natural aging, but the bowl remains in good overall condition, with no major chips or cracks visible.