Small, Song dynasty tea bowl of the cizhou type, probably from the Dongzhang or Minhou kiln in Fujian province. The grey body has a typical black glaze with russet patches. It is sturdily potted despite its light weight. The well of the interior is of uneven depth owing, I imagine, to a thumb pushing downwards in that area - it is very nice to handle. The foot rim has been trimmed on a slant and there are patches of incrustation especially on the base.
Using UV light, there are signs of restorations around the rim, but no hairlines show up. There is also a tiny chip which I have photographed from both sides, . Please study the photos carefully, you will notice the glaze has crackled but this is not easily visible to the naked eye. If you need more pictures or have questions, please get in touch.
Approximate dimensions : 9.8 cms diameter x 4.5 cms high ; 134g
Provenance: no. 75 in the J P Doan collection.
Ref: DQA851PVAR