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This dish is an example of a small but excellent collection of Chinese
Song dynasty ceramics in the Davis Collection. During the Song dynasty
ceramics reached a peak in the history of its development. Stoneware
and porcelain bodies were used during this period to produce a wide
range of ceramic wares. Various ceramic groups were made during this
time and these are classified according to what is, or was once
thought to be, their place of origin, i.e. Ding, Jun, Cizhou, etc. The white porcelains known as Ding ware of Ding
yao are amongst the
most refined of Song ceramics and were produced in northern China.
This ware is characteristically covered with a transparent ivory-toned
glaze. Open ware, such as this dish, was fired upside down on their
mouthrims inside stepped saggers. Because of this firing method, rims
had to be left unglazed. Later on these were finished off with a thin
band of copper or another kind of metal. Ding ware is domestic ware
and would have been used to eat from. Ding wares were mostly
decorated by way of carving or incising, as is evident in the carved
motif of a dragon amongst clouds on this particular dish. Davis
Collection. (SACHM2946)
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