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The Chinese ceramic industry experienced a period of considerable growth and innovation under the Song Dynasties. One innovation was a move to coal rather than wood firing in large scale kilns. This reduced costs and increased output - a revolutionary step not taken in Europe for another 1000 years. One by-product of using coal rather than wood is the creation of an oxidizing atmosphere which results in the characteristic warm, ivory colour of the glaze seen on this dish.

Another major innovation was fushao ('upside-down fringe') firing. This method involved stacking wares upside-down in the kiln, resting on top of one another on special props. Four to five times as many objects could be fired at once - greatly improving efficiency. It also resulted in a characteristic unglazed rim, covered here with a band of copper.

A pair of mandarin ducks is one of the most frequent symbols of happy marriage in China because these ducks were considered to mate for life and if one of them should die the other would pine away. A bowl such as this would have made an ideal wedding gift.