White-glazed Plate Carved with Peony Design, Ding Ware

Ding kiln is located in Quyang county, Dingzhou, Hebei province. White-glazed vessels from Ding kiln of the Song dynasty are famous for two reasons: The warm white color with a tinge of yellow of the refined glaze creates the soft, warm feelings; the incised and molded motif marks the new era of decoration for white porcelain wares. Ding wares were fired upside-down in groups, with the mouth rims unglazed. This firing method improved productivity and reduced cost. To cover the unglazed mouth rims, craftsmen had silver, gold, and copper inlaid into this area.