White stoneware bowl of ding type

A stoneware bowl of wide, globular form, supported on a neatly cut foot ring, the rounded sides curving inwards and terminating in an almost straight rim.  The bowl has a transparent ivory glaze that covers the entire body and stops just short of the foot, exposing the fine white stoneware.  On one side, a characteristic ‘tear-drop’ is visible in the glaze.  The interior has three small spur marks.

•  The combination of hard paste, thin potting and ivory tinged glaze indicates that this elegant bowl was made in the Ding kilns, situated in present-day Quyang county in Hebei province, south-west of Beijing.  The Ding kilns were much favoured by the Imperial court from the late 10th century onwards, when they achieved new prominence.  Ding ware is justly regarded as one of the classic wares of the Northern Song period and, despite not being translucent, the hard white ware is often classified as porcelain.  The unusual shape of this bowl most probably derives its inspiration from metalwork.