Ru Ware Sky-Blue Lotus Bowl
A nearly flawless example of Ru ware — the rarest and most prized ceramic type in all of Chinese art. Fewer than 90 pieces survive worldwide.
The Story
Ru ware was produced for less than 20 years (c. 1086–1106) exclusively for the Northern Song imperial court before the kilns were destroyed during the Jurchen invasion. Its sky-blue crackled glaze, applied razor-thin over a dark body, has been compared to 'the sky after rain' — a phrase attributed to Emperor Huizong himself. The lotus-petal form (lianhua) adds Buddhist symbolism to what is already the most restrained, intellectual ceramic glaze in Chinese history. Because so few pieces survived the fall of Northern Song, Ru ware has been obsessively collected by every subsequent dynasty. A single Ru ware brush washer sold at auction in 2017 for USD 37.7 million — the highest price ever achieved for Chinese ceramics.
Why It Matters
The rarest imperial ceramic in Chinese art — fewer than 90 authenticated pieces exist — representing the ultimate Song Dynasty aesthetic of 'less is more.'
Fun Facts
Fewer than 90 pieces of Ru ware survive — about 21 are in the Palace Museum
A Ru ware brush washer sold for USD 37.7 million at Sotheby's in 2017
Emperor Huizong reportedly described the ideal color as 'sky after rain'
The glaze contains trace amounts of agate powder for its unique light-scattering effect
Where to See It
Public collections holding this artifact or closely related pieces.
In Popular Culture
Modern games, films, and TV shows that draw on this artifact.
The Connection
Qing emperors obsessively collected Song Dynasty Ru ware. In the drama, references to imperial tea ware and celadon bowls reflect the Qianlong court's documented fixation on Song aesthetics.
Part of These Themes
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Sources & References
- ·Wikipedia — Ru ware(CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Content informed by the sources above. Where Wikipedia text is used, it is licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.