A carved Qingbai 'boys' bowl, Northern Song dynasty | 北宋 青白釉刻連生貴子紋斗笠盌

Regina Krahl, et al., Bright as Silver, White as Snow: Chinese White Ceramics from Late Tang to Yuan Dynasty, Denver Art Museum, Colorado, 1998-1999, cat. no. 39.
康蕊君等, 《如銀似雪：中國晚唐至元代白瓷賞析》, 丹佛美術館，科羅拉多州，1998-1999年，編號 39

The incised carving and fluid rendering of the boys attest to fine Northern Song work. Some suggest this type of conical bowl, a much crafted shape, was for tea drinking. However, due to its large size, it would be more accurate to say it fulfils the general functions of a bowl.