China, Song Dynasty, Black Glazed Censer (Incense Burner)

• Origin: China, Song Dynasty
• Date: c. 960 - 1279 CE
• Size: 2.8 inches tall
• Notes: This black glazed earthenware vessel of the Song dynasty is known as a censer, which is a type of bowl shaped incense burner.
  
  Chinese pottery has a history spanning over 10,000 years, beginning with Neolithic earthenware and evolving into one of the world’s most influential ceramic traditions. Early pieces were handmade and fired at low temperatures, but by the Shang and Zhou dynasties, potters developed high-fired stoneware and advanced kiln technologies. The Han dynasty saw mass production and the use of glazes, while the Tang dynasty introduced vibrant sancai (three-color) wares. During the Song dynasty, refined aesthetics led to the creation of elegant celadons and monochrome glazes. Chinese porcelain, perfected in the Tang and Song periods, reached global prominence in the Ming and Qing dynasties, with blue-and-white ware becoming especially prized. China’s innovations in ceramic artistry and techniques deeply influenced pottery across Asia, the Islamic world, and Europe.

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