The Sung dynasty (960-1279) was a period of relative peace which allowed a refined and introspective atmosphere to permeate court taste. This is reflected in the tranquil shapes and muted glazes of such classic Sung wares as northern celadon, Ting and Kuan wares. Of those Sung ceramics given court patronage, however, few are as admirable as the finest Lung-ch'uan celadons, typified by their simple, well-proportioned forms and their thick, lustrous, blue-green glaze that approximates polished jades in its brilliance. This porcelain bowl represents in its quiet purity, the quintessence of twelfth-century court taste. The double fish motif seen here is a traditional Chinese symbol of marital happiness.