Double Gourd-shaped Ewer, 12th century, 9 1/8 in. (23.18 cm), Jun ware Porcelaneous stoneware with light blue glaze, China, 12th century, The beginning of Jun ware is uncertain, but a large quantity of kilns excavated near the ancient site of the Northern Sung capital of Kaifeng in today's Henan province indicates that it began sometime during the Northern Song period (960-1127). Although originally an imperial ceramic, the great demand for the richly glazed blue ware resulted in kiln sites being established throughout China and its popularity continued at least through the Yuan dynasty (1280-1368). The double gourd shape of this ewer however is extremely rare in Jun ware and only a few are know.