Under the Tang and Song dynasties in Northern China, hard ceramics appear side by side with celadons. They had glazes in different colours, frequently greenish, brown or yellow-green. They were applied on a light engobe, which makes the body smooth and enhances the colour of the glaze, just as in this case. The ware’s shape is not based on local tradition, but was inspired by models from Iran and Central Asia, as was typical of the multicultural situation under the Tang dynasty, whose rulers were related to non-Chinese Central Asian tribes. At that time, many foreign innovations reached the Chinese territory and were reflected in the arts.
