Song Dynasty Qingbai Porcelain Bowl

Southern Song Dynasty, 1127–1275 AD, Jingdezhen kilns, Jiangxi Province, China

An exquisite and delicately potted small porcelain bowl from the Southern Song Dynasty, finely crafted in the renowned Qingbai tradition. Supported by a neatly finished shallow footrim, the vessel rises with gentle curvature to a subtly flared rim. It is covered in a lustrous, pale greenish-white glaze—a hallmark of Qingbai ware—its translucent surface pooling slightly in the recesses to reveal a soft blue tint.

Qingbai porcelain, meaning “bluish-white,” represents one of the most refined achievements in Chinese ceramic history. Produced primarily at Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province, these wares were among the earliest true porcelains, admired for their elegance, thin potting, and ethereal glaze tones. The Qingbai aesthetic—serene, luminous, and understated—embodied the Song dynasty’s ideal of quiet sophistication, aligning with the intellectual and introspective spirit of the time.

The Song era marked a golden age in ceramic production, distinguished by its technical innovation and minimalist beauty. The Southern Song court favored simple yet refined forms and soft, monochrome glazes, which contrasted with the more elaborate styles of preceding and later dynasties. Six major kiln groups flourished during this period, each with distinctive regional styles. Among these, the Jingdezhen kilns became especially important, laying the foundation for their later dominance in porcelain production during the Yuan and Ming dynasties.

This bowl, modest in scale yet rich in aesthetic and historical value, is a superb example of Qingbai craftsmanship. Its gentle form and subtle glaze speak volumes about the Song ideal of quiet elegance and purity, making it not only a beautiful object but also a meaningful embodiment of a cultural philosophy.

Good condition. Intact. Age-related minimal wear. Discolouring and glazing flaws. Size approx. 4,1cm x 12,7cm x 12,7cm.

Provenance: Finnish private collection

References and further reading:

Song to Yuan dynasties 960–1350, National Palace Museum, Taipei.(https://www.npm.edu.tw/exh99/ceramics/en/page-3.html#main)

The Enchantment of Song, Ying Jang & Annika Waenerberg, 2002, Academia.(https://www.academia.edu/10582197/The_Enchantment_of_Song)