Agate Bowl with Gold Rim

Detail

Dates：Northern Song Dynasty
Size：height 5.9cm; diameter of mouth 13.2cm; diameter of bottom 7.5cm

Unearthed from Xiangguan Commune, Lai’an County, Anhuip Province in 1972
The bowl has gold rim, a deep swelling belly and a flat base. Its wall is so thin as if the natural texture is exposed in the translucence. The gold rim decoration was popular in the Song Dynasty, when the bureaucratic class and wealthy families often had the mouths of porcelain and jade decorated with gold rim, especially that of bowls, plates, mirror cases and etc. The coating technique added to the magnificence and luxury of the utensils.