Chinese Ceramic Bowls

Ceramic bowls can be formed from a variety of different materials, but porcelain is most identified with chinaware. Chinese ceramic bowls can be tall, short, shallow, deep, large or small; all of these diversifications lend themselves towards different uses. For example, a larger bowl might have once been used as a container to store fish, whereas a smaller bowl would have been used for food like rice.

Regardless of the form, Chinese ceramic bowls are always very carefully decorated. In ancient times, the artists took so much pride in this surface decoration that a signature is often painted into the base of the bowl. There are both monochromatic and multi-colored bowls glazed with scenes or symbols of wealth, prosperity, and contentment.

Quick Facts

• Many Chinese ceramic bowls either have very long slender stems, or come with a base. These bowls were used particularly for altars and religious rituals
• For a long time, only imperials or members of the royal family were permitted to use ceramic bowls decorated with images of dragons. It wasn’t until around 1368 that some members of lower nobility were allowed to use them
• Yellow is a common color of many ceramics and represents earth. As an agricultural society, earth was synonymous with prosperity and health. Therefore, yellow ceramic bowls were reserved for royalty and religious ceremony