Brush Washer

North China; Northern Song period (960–1126), Late 11th-early 12th century
Stoneware with glaze with iron "oil spots"
H. 2 5/8 x Diam. 6 1/2 in. (6.7 x 16.5 cm)
Asia Society, New York: Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, 1979.144

Provenance
John D. Rockefeller 3rd, New York, NY; acquired from Mrs. Clark through John Sparks, Ltd., London in 1971.
The Asia Society, New York, NY, bequest of John D. Rockefeller 3rd, New York, NY, 1979.

The spectacular "oil spot" effect on this brush washer was the result of an excess of iron in the glaze that rose to the surface during firing. It was made in North China at a kiln producing Cizhou and northern black wares. This technique was also used at the Jian kilns in Fujian Province in southeastern China, and it has been suggested that the northern black wares were produced in response to the popularity of ceramics from Fujian, which were used throughout China at all levels of society. Kilns competed for the same customers, so they often copied the obvious characteristics of each other's styles.