A CIZHOU YAO TORTOISESHELL GLAZED BOWL WITH PHOENIX DESIGN
Southern Song Dynasty

From the Southern Song Dynasty, this tortoiseshell glazed bowl is evenly rounded with an abdominal that gradually closes downwards. The outer wall features a pleasant brown color. A white ring circles the bottom base, making the tone unusually soft. The mottled white spots imbue the bowl with even greater antique sensations. The inner wall of the bowl is not entirely brown.
Instead, brown spots cleverly mingle alongside decorations of phoenixes and flowers. Although there may be no complicated illustrations, the bowl exudes the lifelike charm of flowers and birds. In a static state, it is filled with a lively energy. It is quite a rare work. Birds and flowers represent harmony and tranquility. From this work, it is not hard to see the Southern Song Dynasty people’s desire for a stable life during a turbulent era.