Bowl with incised decoration

Application of a thin, transparent blue glaze which produces what has been characterized as a "cold white light" onto white porcelain is characteristic of Chinese Ch'ing pai ware. The effect is a translucency which alters according to its lighting. This Southern Song dynasty bowl is a classic example of that ceramic period. Under the glaze on the interior of the bowl is an excised design sometimes known as "boys among peonies." The coloration of the glaze is also slightly more saturated in the interior. This piece was purchased by Freer as part of the Horace Allen collection of Korean pottery and was originally thought to have been produced in that country.