Ceramic ShapesDating and AuthenticationGlazesSong & Jin Dyn.

Key Points:

• Characterized by simple shapes and nearly perfect glazing techniques
• Six prominent kiln groups: Ding, Yaozhou, Cizhou, Jun, Ru, and Longquan

Ding Ware

• Finest production during Northern Song Dynasty
• Distinctive teardrop-like streaks and fingernail impressions
• White or black glaze, with creamy white being the most common

Yaozhou Ware

• Known for shallow carving under the glaze
• Wide range of shapes, including bowls, vases, and figurines
• Celadon glaze

Cizhou Ware

• More complex designs using incised and painted floral patterns
• Sturdy and often large shapes
• Combination of white and black slip

Jun Ware

• Blue and purple glazes, with some brown and green variants
• Permeable body due to lower firing temperatures

Ru Ware

• Rarest and most desired type
• Agate glaze with crackles created by thermal expansion differences
• Exceptional quality and extreme rarity

Longquan Ware

• Olive green celadon glaze, expanding to bluish greens later on
• Simple shapes in early periods, with raised decorations becoming common
• Widely imitated in other countries

Guan Ware

• Southern Song equivalent of Ru ware
• Variety of materials, firing methods, and glaze tones

Ge Ware

• Characteristic crackled celadon glaze with an opaque and milky appearance
• Little known about its production

Qingbai Ware

• Jade-like porcelain with a transparent glaze giving a bluish white tint
• Jingdezhen became the major production site during the Song period