Chinese white wares such as this ewer were immensely desirable, both within China and abroad. They have been discovered throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle East. It is one of around 300 pieces found in the Tang Shipwreck. Made at either the Xing or Ding kilns in northern China, it is of high quality and was probably very expensive even in the 9th century. Fired at a high temperature, it has a pure white body. The Ding kilns started out copying Xing ware, but soon produced ceramics of very high quality.Ewers such as this were used to pour hot water over tea powder and to rinse tea bowls. The Tang Shipwreck was a 9th century vessel that was en route from China back to the Middle East when it sank off the coast of Belitung Island in the Java Sea.
