A CIZHOU-TYPE ‘HARE’S FURE’ GLAZED TEA BOWL, SONG DYNASTYChina, 1127-1279. The conical bowl rising from a short ring foot, covered with a thick and lustrous black glaze finely streaked with ‘hare’s fur’ and stopping irregularly above the lower body, exposing the light-colored ware.Provenance: From the collection of Teddy Hahn, Darmstadt, and thence by descent to the present owner. Theodor “Teddy” Hahn was a well-known and respected collector of netsuke and other Asian works of art. After spending time in museums to study the early cultures of the world, finding particular interest in their sculptures, he began collecting, remarking “I somehow knew it would have a profound influence on my life. How right I was. And how happy I have been.” Condition: Very good condition with some wear and manufacturing flaws, including a firing crack to the base, glaze pooling and recesses, and light surface scratches, few minuscule chips to the foot rim. All commensurate with age and as expected on this type of ware.Weight: 367.3 g Dimensions: Diameter 17.1 cm‘Hare’s fur’ tea bowls, much beloved by tea connoisseurs, were first made at the Jian kilns in Fujian in southern China. Following the Jin conquest of the north in 1127, such bowls became virtually unattainable as trade between northern and southern China diminished. Trying to tap into the lucrative market for these specialized dark-glazed wares, the Cizhou potters began to produce wares exhibiting their own version of this highly desirable glaze.Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 19 September 2014, lot 764Price: USD 15,000 or approx. EUR 18,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A Cizhou-type conical 'hare's fur' tea bowl, Song dynasty, 12th-13th centuryExpert remark: Compare the closely related color nuances of the glaze. Note the size (13.1 cm).