China, Jun ware Yuan dynasty, 1279–1368, pot with two loop handlesChina, Jun ware Yuan dynasty, 1279–1368. Stoneware with Jun glaze with blue-turquoise splashesHeight: 4.25 in. = 10.5 cm;Width: 4.5 in. = 11 cm;Weight: 12 oz. = 350 gCondition: used, unglazed bottom, no defectsProvenance: from the prominent New York (USA) collectorConsidered one of the five “great wares” of Chinese ceramics, Jun ware was produced at a number of kilns in Henan province from the Song dynasty (960–1279) through the fifteenth century. The distinctive blue colors of the glaze—which can range from greenish-blue to violet—are the result of a chemical reaction that occurs during the firing and cooling process. Variations in tone occur because some areas of the pot are less thickly

used, unglazed bottom, no defects