Bowl with incised flowers

Yue celadon bowls, in vast production since the Tang, appear in deep and shallow shapes, with flaring or flat lips, straight or tapering sides, and with short footrings or flat bases. The growth of carved interior ornamentation beginning in the ninth century helped make floral patterns a prominent design element (WW 1973.5: 35; WW 1963.1: 44). Yue ware sometimes carries inscriptions giving the date of production, the location of the kiln, the price of the piece, and the names of its potters or owners. The only readable character on this piece is "wan," possibly the last name of the craftsman.