Southern Song Dynasty Jian ware Iron glaze Tenmoku Tea Bowl (Jian Zhan)

A black-glazed Tenmoku tea bowl fired at the Jian kilns during the Southern Song dynasty.
The shape is representative of the tenmoku, with the abdomen expanding in a gentle arc from the inner base, rising at the top, and slightly curved around the edges of the mouth.
The piece is thickly coated with an iron-rich glaze; the black hue is particularly deep—approaching the color of lacquer—though the glaze thins at the rim, allowing the brownish clay body to show through faintly.
Faint traces of a "hare's fur" pattern are visible in sections near the rim.
This ""hare's fur" pattern is created during the firing process when glaze components separate, melt, and flow.
A thick accumulation of black glaze near the foot ring reveals the substantial thickness of the glaze layer.
The clay body contains iron but has a slightly reddish tone, suggesting it was crafted during the Southern Song period.
It features a small, sturdy ring-shaped foot, with the interior of the foot neatly carved out.
Tenmoku bowls (Jian-zhan) were originally created with the aim of producing a black vessel that would beautifully contrast with and highlight the white color of the tea.
Varieties such as "hare's fur" ,"oil spot" and "yohen" are derivatives of this tradition, with the plain black Tenmoku serving as the origin.
It is precisely because of the large expanse of black that the crackle pattern stands out so vividly, creating the distinctive aesthetic unique to black-glazed Tenmoku ware.

The surface has an overall matte, weathered look, possessing a fine patina that reflects the passage of time. It feels slightly rough to the touch.There is one chip on the foot.