China, Zhejiang province, Longquan kilns, Yuan dynasty, 13th–14th century.

Stoneware bowl with crackled celadon glaze, incised flower decoration in the center and panels or petals on the outside, old kintsugi repair on the rim.

Diameter 12.5 cm. Height 6.3 cm.

Condition: chips and old crack at the lip consolidated with kintsugi, wear and small impurities from original firing, surface patina consistent with age.

Historically, the Longquan kilns reached a peak in production for export during the Yuan dynasty. Bowls of this type, decorated with incised floral medallions and petal-like walls, constituted a significant portion of these shipments. Preserved and revalued in temples and among Japanese warriors, they became, during the 15th and 16th centuries, models of understated elegance for tea masters, who appreciated the softness of the glaze, the interplay of crackles, and the patina acquired through use. The presence of kintsugi (the decorative tool) aptly signifies this functional value: a broken bowl is not discarded; rather, its damage is elevated to a higher status.