This conical bowl is covered with a dark brownish-black glaze that is suffused with buff splashes of different shapes and sizes. The abstract and organic pattern resembles the appearance of hawksbill turtle shells; hence dark glazes with such buff- or amber-coloured mottling have been popularly described as tortoiseshell glazes. The irregular markings on these bowls were likely created by dribbling or splashing an ash-rich glaze on the dark-glazed surface. The tortoiseshell glaze was one of the decorative techniques created at the Jizhou kilns, which were well-known for their innovative ways of embellishing dark-glazed ceramics. This production centre emerged during the late Tang dynasty (618–907) and continued into the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368), flourishing during the Southern Song period (1127–1279). Dark-glazed bowls were in high demand during the Song dynasty due to the prevailing fashion for drinking powdered tea and the popularity of tea competitions; the dark surfaces of the vessels accentuated the white froth of the whisked tea.
