Shallow dish, Jun ware 11th - 12th century

Curator: Standing here, I'm immediately struck by the subtlety of the colours. It's so delicate and seemingly simple at first glance. Editor: Yes, it's the restraint, almost a zen-like calm. But looking closer, you sense incredible depth in its texture and tones. It's quite lovely, in its muted way. Curator: Precisely. What we’re admiring is a shallow dish from the Northern Song dynasty, specifically Jun ware dating from the 11th to 12th century. It's stoneware, boasting that stunning glaze we see there, and is part of the Metropolitan Museum's collection. Editor: Jun ware. It sounds almost… elemental. I can see why it has such presence. You know, what I find so compelling is that the color is so ethereal; it's not quite blue, not quite green. Almost like a faded sky. I suppose that the stoneware aspect gives a roughhewn sort of elegance to what might otherwise just be simple pottery. Curator: That ambiguity is quintessential Jun ware! It's due to a complex process of applying a thick, translucent glaze that separates during firing, creating this beautiful opalescent effect. Jun ware was, in its day, revered, eventually being claimed for imperial use only. This particular type of ceramic held an important socio-economic position. Editor: Amazing. So, this wasn't your everyday bowl? It feels so accessible, so utilitarian, and now you tell me it was practically royal treasure? It highlights how our appreciation for objects evolves over time, what value and who assigns it, too. Curator: Exactly! Think about it. Ordinary material raised to imperial treasure. It speaks volumes about status, value, trade and so much more...it’s the social life of objects coming to life. I always find this intriguing. Editor: I'm converted! From "pretty bowl" to tiny window on a whole world... incredible, really. Curator: Yes, and I feel we have barely scratched the surface!