Bowl with Lotus Design, 12th or 13th century

Graceful shapes, rich greenish glazes, and distinctively carved designs are salient features of the restrained jade colored wares known as “northern celadon.” The name alludes to its development in the northern provinces of Shaanxi and Henan during the Northern Song period (960–1127). This bowl, which appears to have been a popular Song form, reveals a consummate mastery of ceramic techniques. Although the substantial hard-fired body has a solid, unpretentious shape, the ornately carved lotus design and subtly enhancing glaze combine to produce an elegant effect.