Jiangxi is the home of Chinese porcelain and Jingdezhen has been the Porcelain Capital of a Thousand Years of China. Jingdezhen porcelain is the pearl in the treasure house of Chinese art and culture. Among its products, the most representative one is the blue and white porcelain.
Known as Xinping in ancient times, the city of Jingdezhen began to make porcelain as early as around 200BC in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). During the reign of Emperor Jingde (1004-1007) of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), all the products made here bore the reign mark of Jingde, and the name of the city was therefore changed to Jingdezhen (Jingde Town).
The baking of the blue and white porcelain originated during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). During the Yuan and Ming dynasties (1271-1644), the blue and white porcelain became increasingly popular, and since the 14th century manufacturers have shipped the blue and white porcelains to world markets. The porcelain reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Its thin, translucent quality and exotic motifs made it highly prized throughout Europe and the colonies, ranking first among the blue and white porcelains nationwide.
Jingdezhen porcelain has formed its own four special features, that is, white like jade, bright as a mirror, thin as paper, and sound like a chime. Using the same materials, the same artistic techniques, in some cases, the same kilns, porcelain from Jingdezhen is prized for its artistic qualities and function around the world.
The blue and white porcelain belongs to the color glaze porcelain. The coloring agent for it is cobalt oxide. The process is: first, paint on the unbaked mould with cobalt oxide, apply a layer of translucent glaze over it and bake it under a temperature of 1,300oC. The cobalt oxide is reduced under high temperature into a blue color, which is very bright and durable, without poisonous lead. Each monochrome-glazed porcelain has one single bright color with exquisite design. It requires a very good mastery of the control of temperature changes and the composition of contents. The blue and white porcelain is the most famous one of the four traditional porcelains produced in Jiangdezhen, renowned as the ever-lasting blue flower.
In 1979, Jingdezhen blue and white porcelain won the national golden prize. In 1985, it won three gold medals in succession at the international fairs held in Leipzig, Brno, etc. Ever since then, the name of Jingdezhen blue and white porcelain was spread far and wide. By far, it is the best product in the porcelain business with the most prizes and highest standard. |
