This conical 'jian' (建) tea bowl is covered with a brown glaze marked with creamy spots. The dark colour of this type of bowls complimented the white foam that resulted from using whisked powdered tea during this period.Jian wares were used by the ruling elites as well as by monks and ordinary people. Japanese monks who travelled to China found these bowls being used for tea. The monks were so charmed by them, they brought the bowls back to Japan, where they were later imitated.
