An Extremely Rare Ru ‘Sky-Blue’ Tea Bowl, Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1279)

The bowl is exquisitely potted with rounded sides supported on a short foot, rising to a slightly tapering mouth. It is covered overall in a luminous and translucent bluish-green glaze suffused with a dense network of glistening ice crackles, thinning at the rims to reveal the ashen body underneath. The exterior is beautifully carved with peony flowers and leaves. The base has five tiny, sesame-shaped spur marks. 15.2 cm. diameter.