White Pottery Bu with Carved Geometric Pattern

White ceramics appeared as early as the late Neolithic. By the Shang dynasty, due to increases in kiln temperature and finer clays, the fabric of white ceramics became finer and whiter. The elaborate carving techniques show the high level of development of late Shang white ceramics. A pattern of concentric boxes was used as a background pattern, which gave the geometric pattern more pronounced relief. It was also a common decoration technique on bronze.