Southern Song dynasty (13th century)
Donated by the Homma family
This Jian ware Tenmoku tea bowl was fired in China. It has the characteristics typical of the Tenmoku style, and features a slightly widened rim. The iron crystals in the black glaze form streaks as the glaze flows down. In Japan, these streaks are said to resemble the tips of rice or wheat, and are thus called nogime. In China, these streaks are said to resemble the fine hairs of a silver rabbit, the origin of the “hare’s fur glaze” English moniker.