The Chinese ceramic ware famous for a thick lavender-blue glaze from Song-dynasty Jun kilns is Jun ware.
Jun ware was produced in northern China, especially around the Jun kilns in Henan, during the Song dynasty and later periods. Its most recognizable feature is a thick, opalescent glaze ranging from blue and lavender to grayish or reddish tones. Copper-bearing effects could produce striking flashes of purple or red within the blue surface.
Unlike some Song wares prized for restrained monochrome surfaces, Jun ware often celebrates variation created by glaze chemistry and firing. The kiln environment could make individual pieces differ considerably, giving them a distinctive visual character.
Jun ware is one of the traditionally recognized “Five Great” Song ceramic types, along with Ru, Guan, Ge, and Ding wares. These labels can simplify a complex history because production continued and later kilns imitated famous Song models.