A small dish of Ding ware, fired during the Northern Song to Jin period. Rising gently from a flat base, the vessel is decorated in the well with a floral motif carved in katakiri-bori style, the lines cut with a single, fluid movement that varies naturally in depth and width. Fired upside down to prevent distortion during firing, the rim was wiped free of glaze, leaving a narrow band of exposed clay. The surface is covered in a warm ivory-toned glaze of remarkable softness and clarity.

The Ding ware kilns, located at Jianci Village in Quyang County, Hebei Province, are counted among the Five Great Kilns of the Song dynasty. With a few early exceptions, Ding potters achieved their celebrated white wares without the use of white slip, relying solely upon the refinement of clay and glaze. Although the kilns originated as private productions, the exceptional quality of their products led them to serve the court, and their technical innovations would later influence the development of qingbai wares in southern China. The present dish was made for everyday use rather than elite patronage, yet the freely flowing carved lines reveal the same mastery that distinguished one of China’s most celebrated ceramic traditions.

Apart from a few small kiln adhesions, there are no notable defects, and the condition is excellent.