Tea bowl with "hare's fur" decoration
12th-13th century
The iron glaze yields a "hare's fur" effect on tea bowls produced in the Jian kiln. When the white Fujianese tea leaves were powdered and whisked in hot water, the resulting milk-white beverage looked best in these vessels. Introduced to Japan in the twelfth century, they remain prized items to this day.
Jian ware; dark gray stoneware with brown glaze (hare's fur)
height: 2 1/4 x 4 7/16in. (5.7 x 11.3cm)
Gift of the Robert B. and Honey Dootson Collection, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum
2005.189
Photo: Susan Cole
