A shallow tea bowl fired at the Zibo kilns, a group of folk kilns active across the central Shandong region during the Jin dynasty. The interior is decorated with an impressed dragon motif executed in the yinwen (mould-impressed) technique, while a rich brown glaze extends to the edge of the foot. At the centre of the well, an unglazed “snake’s-eye” stacking mark remains visible.

The Zibo ware flourished primarily by producing everyday wares and, while influenced by traditions such as Cizhou ware, developed a distinctive palette and sense of form rooted in the local culture of Shandong. Remarkably, these kilns continued in operation into the modern period. Here, a clear, glassy glaze captures the relief of the impressed decoration, allowing the dragon’s idiosyncratic design to emerge quietly yet vividly across the surface.

Several fine surface scratches are present. We applied Gintsukuroi restoration on the chips on the rim.