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Chinese Ding-type Yaozhou Celadon or Shufu-style Bowl, Southern Song to Yuan Dynasty (1127-1368)

Bottom, side, and top views of a Chinese Song style white glazed ceramic bowl held by a hand. - view 1
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Estimated value

$250 - $650

Rarity

Uncommon(5/10)

Era

circa 1150-1350

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Moderate(55%)
21

CHINESE DING-TYPE YAOZHOU CELADON OR SHUFU-STYLE BOWL, SOUTHERN SONG TO YUAN DYNASTY (1127-1368): IDENTIFICATION

A conical stoneware bowl featuring a slightly flared rim and an unglazed, carved footrim typical of provincial Song and Yuan dynasty production. The vessel is covered in a pale, greyish-white 'moon white' (yuebai) glaze that terminates unevenly above the foot, revealing a buff-colored, granular clay body. The interior exhibits subtle radial moldings or 'bi' (disc) style fluting around the cavetto, a common feature in kilns from the Shaanxi or Fujian regions.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Alabaster Urn-Shaped Vase, Han Dynasty Style Glazed Ceramic Boar Figurine, Chinese Blue and White 'Three Friends of Winter' Stem Cup, Ming Style.

SCARCITY

Uncommon70-80%
CommonLegendary

Genuine antiques with fewer examples on the market. Named makers, documented provenance, or early production examples.

Rarity 5/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 21 ceramics items at rarity 5 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Limited production
  • Named makers
  • Growing collector demand

Confidence Factors

  • High frequency of 20th-century reproductions of Song 'monochrome' wares
  • Patina and kiln grit appear consistent with period examples but require tactile confirmation
  • Rim damage is common in genuine pieces but easily simulated in modern fakes
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The morphology and foot treatment are highly characteristic of early Southern Chinese wares, though the lack of a macro-view of the glaze bubbles precludes a higher confidence level.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Unglazed, knife-cut footrim exposing granular buff stoneware body
  • 2Opaque, pale yuebai (moon white) glaze with characteristic Song-style pinholing
  • 3Conical form typical of 12th-14th century tea bowl morphology
  • 4Presence of kiln accretions (sand/grit) on the base plate

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The evenness of the glaze degradation could be chemically induced
  • •Lack of 'spur marks' on the interior center which are often present in similar Northern wares

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Conduct a 'wet-test' to check for the distinctive earthy odor of ancient excavated stoneware
  • →Examine the rim chips under 20x magnification to see if the oxidation within the break matches the exterior wear
  • →Check for signs of a 'ring' sound when tapped, which indicates a high-fired stoneware body

CONDITION & GRADE

Grading breakdown

Grading is based on visible rim loss and the degree of glaze degradation; the unglazed foot is expectedly rough for this period.

Condition

Significant rim chips are visible at the 1 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, with smaller nicks along the entire circumference. Structural integrity remains sound despite surface abrasions consistent with burial or long-term handling.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$250 - $650

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Specialist collectors of early Chinese monochrome ceramics and academic scholars of Song dynasty kiln sites.

What increases value

  • •The age and period attribution to the Song/Yuan transition
  • •Authenticity of the base and kiln evidence

What lowers value

  • •Extensive rim chipping significantly reduces the ceiling price for top-tier collectors
  • •Presence of any hairline cracks not visible in current images

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Thinness of the potting ('eggshell' quality)
  • •Uniformity and depth of the glaze color without inclusions

Grade & condition

Condition of the rim, clarity of the glaze, and the sharpness of the foot cut.

Rarity & demand

UncommonModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

BR

bruinsma
The Connoisseur•59 items

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