Chinese Ceramics

Chinese Porcelain

Chinese porcelain is a durable, beautiful, and historically significant example of ceramic art. It serves as an important industry in China and is greatly admired around the world. The basic recipe for producing porcelain consists of four steps: forming a piece, glazing, decorating, and firing. The firing takes place in a kiln at extremely high temperatures above 1,260 degrees Celsius (or 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit).

The finest porcelains are white and translucent thanks to the presence of kaolin—a soft, white clay that is bountiful around certain Chinese rivers. Artisans have mastered the right proportions of kaolin with other materials such as feldspar, ball clay, glass, or bone ash to achieve the effects of color and translucence. Artisans during the Shang dynasty (ca. 1600–1050 BCE) made the first proto-porcelains. Improved techniques came during the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 CE), and the white, translucent porcelain we know today came during the Tang dynasty (618–907). By the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), porcelain was being exported to Europe.

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Editing: Jackson Harvey
Research: Khamo Kyi

[Catalog No. CFV11257; © 2019 Smithsonian Institution]

Chinese Ceramics 3rd Century to 13th Century Six Dynasties period to Song Dynasty China

Chinese Ceramics 3rd Century to 13th Century Six Dynasties period to Song Dynasty China;
This video is a study of medieval Chinese ceramic wares, created beginning in the 6th Century C.E. and continuing through the 13th Century C.E. Included in this video are Chinese Yue Wares and early Celadon Wares from Southern China, and Cizhou Wares from Northern China; works featured are from the Six Dynasties period, the Tang Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty. Emphasized are primarily works from the Five Classic Kilns: the Ding Kiln, Ru Kiln, and Jun Kiln (in the North), and the Imperial Kiln and Longquan Kiln (in the South) . This video includes still images demonstrating the essential components and functions of a dragon kiln, a type of kiln that could achieve and sustain temperatures high enough to create porcelain.

Chinese Porcelain Master (full program)

“I studied ceramics. I love ceramics. My work is ceramics and ceramics are my life.”
–Huang Yunpeng.

American ceramics artist, Judy Fleming, travels to the “World Capital of Ceramics” – Jingdezhen, China, to learn from the porcelain master Huang Yunpeng.

Master Huang Yunpeng was appointed by China to be the heir of Chinese porcelain art. He focuses on reproductions of porcelain in ancient and traditional Chinese styles. He recreates valuable ancient porcelain pieces from old dynasties.

Initially a painter and sculptor, he is now regarded as one of the top porcelain artists in China, and he is also a driving force behind the revival of the ceramic art industry in Jingdezhen, China.

On this trip, Judy learns about the history of ceramic art in China by visiting historic sites and ancient kilns. She also travels to mountainsides to learn methods used to harvest and process ceramic clay in the region.

While local culture, food, and beautiful scenery have made long lasting impressions on Judy, the best part of the trip is seeing a true master at work.

A Guide to the Symbolism of Chinese Ceramic Decoration

Peonies, jasmine, chrysanthemums and other flowers are loaded with meaning in Chinese art.

Chinese porcelain has been decorated with a huge variety of motifs in the years since the first recognisable shapes appeared on painted pottery in the Neolithic period. Since the Song dynasty (960-1279) flowers have been among the most popular decorative themes.

This was particularly true on 18th-century enamelled porcelains. The choice of designs was based not only on their beauty, but also on what the motifs represented. ‘Throughout Chinese history, symbolism has been integral to its artwork,’ says Katie Lundie, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Specialist at Christie’s in London. ‘These links are often very playful.’

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Those Famous Blue Chinese Bowls Come From This Town

These bowls, called linglong (玲珑) porcelain, used to be everywhere in the West. And they all come from this one town in China.

We visited one of the last factories that still makes this style of blue and white porcelain, and deciphered the symbols that cover the bowl.

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Written and Voiceover by: Clarissa Wei
Produced and Shot by: Nathaniel Brown and Clarissa Wei
Edited by: Nicholas Ko
Animated by: Ray Ngan
Special Thanks: Dolly Li, Nicholas Ko, Hanley Chu
Mastered by: Victor Peña

Music: Audio Network

#porcelain #artisan #artsandcrafts

The History of Chinese Porcelain

The history of Chinese porcelain, a story of innovation, trade, war, and forgery. We will explore the origins of porcelain in the 10th century, the explosion in trade between Europe and China of porcelain from the 17th century, and how European manufacturers began imitating Chinese porcelain from the late 18th century. To bring the story to life we will analyse in detail an antique collection of Chinese, British and Dutch porcelain, as well as a plethora of antique maps, paintings and photographs.

00:00 Intro
2:42 The manufacture of porcelain in China
8:26 Western nations begin importing Chinese porcelain
12:58 Dutch monopoly on the porcelain trade
17:31 Germany begins producing Chinese imitation porcelain
19:02 The British capture the market and copy Chinese porcelain

Make sure to watch in 4K!

Music tracks used in the video:

Track: Pure Dharma Buddha (Pipa Performance) NCM version
Music provided by Youtube Free Music Library (NCM)
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Track: Send kiss song (Matouqin) NCM version
Music provided by Youtube Free Music Library (NCM)
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Track: Listening (sheng/pipa) NCM version
Music provided by Youtube Free Music Library (NCM)
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