Song dynasty celadon stoneware bowl

A Song dynasty (960-1279 CE) celadon shallow stoneware bowl from the Jepara shipwreck, Fujian Kilns c. 1150 CE.

The stoneware body swiftly Incised with a floral design under a thin translucent pale olive green glaze.

The Jepara wreck was discovered just north of the Central Javan coast after local fishermen discovered ceramic shards in the area, which were analysed and found to be Song porcelain. Though very little of the wreck itself remained, excavations by a salvage team in 1998 unearthed over 10,000 ceramic pieces along with other artefacts including ‘jianyan’ inscribed coins dateable to the reign of Emperor Gaozong (r.1127-1162), the tenth emperor of the Song dynasty. Ceramic goods appear to have made up a significant proportion of the cargo, and included large quantities of celadon dishes and other tableware for daily use made at kilns in Fujian Province on China’s Southeast coast.