This is an ash-glazed ritual burial ware. Ash-glazes in the Chinese tradition were probably discovered by potters accidentally when wood ash from the kilns adhered to the pots during firing to form shiny glazes. Early wood ash glazes were the foundation on which many other types of glazes were developed. This eared cup was made in the style of bronze ritual vessels found in China and northern Vietnam at this time. The tradition of making pottery burial wares in imitation of those made with more expensive materials such as bronze, had been well-established by this time.
