Rice Grain Tea or Rice Bowls - 4.5" Diam.
$14
"Rice grain" or linglong porcelain is a traditional Chinese style of pottery featuring small, rice-shaped perforations cut into the clay while wet. These holes are filled with translucent glaze and fired, creating clear "windows" that glow when held to light. Often blue and white, these delicate, fragile bowls represent high-temperature fired, skilled craftsmanship.
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Key details about these bowls:
- Production Method: Despite the name, rice grains are not typically baked into the clay. Instead, artisans meticulously carve out small, rice-shaped holes in the leather-hard clay, which are then filled with a clear or bluish, glassy glaze.
- Appearance: When finished, the bowl has a blue and white design, with the rice-shaped, semi-transparent, or translucent "eyes" acting as windows.
- Name Origin: Known as "rice grain" or "rice eye" porcelain (linglong), it is also sometimes called "devil's work" due to the high skill and labor involved in cutting the holes.
- Design Motifs: Patterns often include stylized bats for prosperity, dragons for protection, or the character "gong".
- Origin: Historically produced in Jingdezhen, China.
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Usage: These bowls are generally for holding rice or tea and are often considered delicate. They are typically hand-washed only, and some, particularly older ones, should not be used in microwaves.
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These bowls are often found in vintage collections and, while the traditional, hand-carved art is becoming rarer, they remain a staple of traditional Chinese tableware.
Only 1 piece in stock!
