The slip-painted decoration appears to be a branch of flowering blossoms under a crescent moon. This freely-rendered, stylised design set against a deep brownish-black glaze, imbues the object with a lyrical quality. This vessel was probably used as a tea bowl; which was one of the main products of the Jizhou kilns. This kiln centre emerged during the late Tang dynasty (618–907) and continued into the Yuan (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 were the best for accentuating the white froth of the whisked tea.
