Jar, Jun ware 1197 - 1303

This small Jun ware jar, now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was made in China. The Jun ware glaze is an innovation that occurred during the Song Dynasty. The empire was undergoing massive social and economic changes and there was enormous support for the arts at court. The imperial court in particular exerted a strong influence on the kind of ceramics that were produced, and even established its own workshops. Jun wares were a new type of stoneware valued for the unpredictable effects that occurred during firing. They often have splashes of copper oxide that turn a crimson red, purple or lavender color. Jun wares were admired by the court and were used in the scholar’s studio. To understand the meaning of ceramics like this, we need to look at the social institutions and cultural values that shaped their creation and appreciation. Museum collections, archaeological reports, and historical documents provide crucial insights into the world of Chinese ceramics. These help us to understand the changing social roles of art and culture.