The Song Re-creation Collection revisits the forms and surface character of eleventh–twelfth century Jian ware through historically grounded bowl shapes, traditional dragon-kiln wood firing, and natural burial aging. Inspired by archaeological Song dynasty tea bowls, each piece preserves the restrained proportions and structural simplicity characteristic of early Jian ware used in Song tea culture.
Each bowl is fully wheel-thrown following form archetypes derived from excavated Jian ware examples. In keeping with historical handcraft practice, some bowls intentionally retain slight asymmetry rather than perfect circular symmetry. Archaeological Song tea bowls frequently display subtly irregular rims or gentle oval profiles, reflecting the natural variation of hand-thrown ceramics rather than mechanical precision.
After firing, the works undergo long-term burial, a gradual natural process in which moisture and minerals interact with the clay and glaze, allowing the surface to develop a softened and time-worn character similar to that observed on excavated ceramics.
Glaze types range from rustic iron-rich surfaces to historically documented patterns such as Watermelon-Spot and Hare’s-Fur, as well as ash-influenced kiln effects created by strong reduction, falling ash, and shifting flame paths within the dragon kiln. In some pieces, the glaze is applied using the traditional Song-dynasty dipping and swirling method (dang-you), producing natural glaze flow patterns consistent with historical Jian ware techniques.
Rooted in archaeological research and traditional firing practice, the Song Re-creation Collection does not attempt to replicate specific museum artifacts. Instead, it continues the material language of Song dynasty Jian ware through authentic processes, materials, and kiln environments similar to those that shaped the original works.
Technical Specifications
• Kiln Type: Skyward Dragon Kiln Wood Firing
• Firing Temperature: approx. 1300–1350 °C
• Firing Cycle: kiln preparation about 20 days, firing about 3 days
• Firing Atmosphere: natural oxidation–reduction transition
• Forming Method: fully hand-thrown
• Trimming Method: fully hand-trimmed
• Clay Origin: Shuiji Town, Jianyang, Fujian, China
• Clay Iron Content: ≥ 8%
• Glaze Type: iron-rich mineral glaze
• Glaze Source: natural mineral glaze from Shuiji, Jianyang
• Glaze Structure: high-temperature crystalline formation
• Work Type: individually numbered work
• Place of Origin: Shuiji Town, Jianyang, Fujian, China
