Fujian Temmoku bowls
Temmoku tea bowls were first produced during the Song Dynasty exclusively for tea drinking. The most famous temmoku bowls were those produced in the Jian Kiln in Fujian. Due to the great demand for temmoku bowls, they were also produced in large quantity in other kilns in Fujian as well (See Map for location of kilns).
In the 1980s, local residents recovered a large number of small Temmoku tea bowls from a wreck at Bai Jiao (白礁) in Fujian Lianjiang Dinghai (连江定海). The Fujian ceramic experts observed that many of the bowls were similar to those produced at Fuqing Dongzhang (福请东张) and Minhou Nanyu (闽侯南屿) and dated them to Southern Song period. Dong Zhang kiln complex was large and comparable in size to that at the Jian complex. They produced large quantities of temmoku and celadon bowls. In the Japanese work (禅林小歌) dated 1394 - 1427 A.D, a type of tea bowl called Fuzhou zhan (福州盏) was mentioned. During the Song/Yuan period, Fuqing and Minhou came under the jurisdiction of Fuzhou. Hence, Fuzhou zhan most probably included tea bowls produced in those two counties. In ancient sites in Japan Fukuoka and Kamakura, there were numerous similar type of tea bowls recovered and were dated to mid 12th to first half of 13th century. Many Dongzhang bowls were also recovered from ancients sites in the coastal Fujian region.
After studying the large number of small tea bowls from the Lianjiang wreck in my collection, it is hard to confirm with certainty the actual kiln of production. Those from Dongzhang, Minhou Nanyu (闽侯南屿) and Ningde Feiluan (宁德飞鸾) appear similar. They share the characteristics of having a casual finishing with poorly formed foot and shaving marks. The profile of the conical bowl with the indent at the rim could vary to a large degree. The lower wall could descent more gradually or steeply to the foot. The glaze is more thinly applied and large number show a thinner layer of glaze especially at the lower wall near the foot. Some of the bowls also have bluish white or rustic hare's fur markings but are not well-defined and clear compared to those from the Jian Kiln. The colour of the glaze ranges from black, black with rustic patches, brown, tea-dust or rustic .
Examples from Lianjiang wreck showing the different profile of the conical bowls
Some examples of temmoku bowls from the Lianjiang, Fuqing and Min Hou kilns are shown below.
An example from the Lian Jiang kiln is also exhibited in the Fujian Province museum.
天目碗是宋代饮茶斗茶必用器皿. 福建建窑所产的天目碗部份还成为朝廷供品. 因国内外的大量需求, 福建多县都有生产. (天目碗福建窑址 地图 ).
在八十年代, 福建连江出水一大批天目碗. 根据碗的特征,大部份是福建福请东张窑的产品. 东张窑是宋元黑釉青瓷重要产地, 产品多数外销日本朝鲜东南亚. 在日本福冈遗址已发现可观数量.
Lian Jian Temmoku bowls for Sale
(For bulk purchase, please contact me. I still have some stocks available)
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No: tm1
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition 2 minor restorations to the rim Sale Price: Sold Shipping cost: US$16 |
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No: tm2
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition 2 restorations to the rim Sale Price: Sold Shipping cost: US$16 |
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No: tm3
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition Some minor restorations to the rim Sale Price: Sold Shipping cost: US$16 |
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No: tm4
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition Some restorations to the rim Sale Price: Sold Shipping cost: US$16 |
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No: tm5
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition Some minor restorations to the rim Sale Price: US$60 Shipping cost: US$16 |
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No: tm6
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition Some minor restorations to the rim Sale Price: Sold Shipping cost: US$16 |
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No: tm7
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition 1 restoration to the rim Sale Price: Sold Shipping cost: US$16 |
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No: tm8
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition 2 restorations to the rim Sale Price: Sold Shipping cost: US$16
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No: tm9
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition 1 restoration to the rim Sale Price: Sold Shipping cost: US$16
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No: tm10
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition 1 small broken piece on the rim Sale Price: US$70 Shipping cost: US$16
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No: tm11
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition 2 faint hairlines to the rim Sale Price: Sold Shipping cost: US$16
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No: tm12
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition some restorations and a hairline to the rim Sale Price: US$60 Shipping cost: US$16
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No: tm13
Dia: 10.5 cm Condition Minor restoration to the rim Sale Price: Sold Shipping cost: US$16
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