White-glazed Bowl Marked with a Chinese Character for “Official”, Ding Ware

Ding kiln is located in site at Quyang county, Hebei province. A masterpiece of the white porcelain during the Five Dynasties, this bowl is a product from Ding kiln at Quyang of Hebei province. Since parts of the workshops of Ding kiln complex were reserved to the imperial family and the government, their products were specially marked with a Chinese character for “official” (guan) so as to distinguish from other products sold to ordinary people. Compared with the unmarked wares, these porcelain wares were more exquisite.