China's imperial porcelain legacy (Chinese history)

 

Ever wondered how the Chinese imperial porcelain stood out from the rest?

Below is a summary of Sotheby's article on the history Chinese imperial porcelain.

Enjoy!

Summary:

1. Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) - Jingdezhen's Golden Age

Strict control on porcelain trade under the Hongwu Emperor.

Jingdezhen, in Jiangxi province, was a crucial center for Chinese ceramics.

The city's importance continued into the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

Many kilns were rebuilt after the Taiping Rebellion in 1855.

Blue and White Porcelain in Ming and Yuan Dynasties

2. Blue and white porcelain became dominant, with cobalt from Persia.

Ming and Qing dynasties are renowned for porcelain excellence.

Influence from Middle Eastern styles in Chinese blue and white design.

3. Yongle Period (1403-1424) - Cultural Flourishing

Yongle Emperor's patronage led to artistic and cultural projects.

Cross-cultural trade influenced Chinese artisans.

Technological achievements in thinner clay bodies and new glazes.

4. Early Qing Dynasty - The Golden Age of Porcelain

Decline of Ming, rise of Qing marked "The Golden Age of Porcelain."

Kangxi Emperor invited European artisans, leading to falangcai style.

Jesuit Giuseppe Castiglione's influence on falangcai development.

5. Qianlong Period (1735-1796) - Dragon Motifs and Celadon Glaze

Qianlong Emperor's era marked by dragon motifs and celadon glaze.

Aesthetic influence from Europe seen in dragon bowl's baroque swirls.

Celadon glaze, lost in Ming and Yuan dynasties, reappeared in Qing.

6. Imperial Patronage Decline and Legacy

Qianlong's reign saw a decline in imperial art patronage.

Jingdezhen's imperial kiln sites are a legacy of the golden age. https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/a-short-history-of-chinese-imperial-porcelain

Our most recently added item - Nov 2023 (Jiang Rong)

A magnificent teapot featuring a toad on the lid by the late renowned potter, Jiang Rong.

To view our catalogue, please visit www.emperorsantique.com.

Alternatively, you could also drop by Naik Antiques and Oriental Gifts at Uptown, Damansara Utama.

Power, Politics, and Porcelain (Empress Cixi)

 

Check out this brief documentary showcasing the Barbara Jean Levy collection of porcelains commissioned for the Dowager Empress Cixi, the longest-reigning female ruler in Chinese history who governed the Qing Empire for nearly 50 years.

The collection, showcased by Sotheby's, includes 70 porcelains commissioned by Cixi, with a focus on those created for her son's imperial wedding in 1872, symbolizing marital bliss and good fortune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IW2hptTc_4

European touch on this rare masterpiece (Qianlong)

Wouldn't be surprised if this large bowl was once an object of pure delight for Emperor Qianlong and kept in the major palace halls of Qianqinggong and Yangxindian.

Watch this brief documentary to learn more about 'Falangcai' porcelain and how the Europeans had contributed to the making of this fine piece of art.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5LmHaK1las

Magnificent flask makes a mark in Chinese history (porcelain)

The outward-looking policy of the Yongle Emperor in the early 15th century gave him the opportunity to develop ties to many countries as far west as East Africa, which brought out an unprecedented exchange of ideas and aesthetic concepts.

This led to the production of an extremely rare moon-shaped vessel which appears to be the only one in private hands, while the Palace Museum, Beijing holds the only companion piece.

Discovered in west Yorkshire in the 1980s, the flask has been kept in the renowned Tianminlou collection for nearly 40 years.

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwKNW7QnoT8

'Imitations' of the Song Dynasty (Chinese ceramics)

Which dynasty imitated the imperial wares of the Song dynasty?

And how did the Dehua kilns rise to fame during the Ming dynasty?

Find out how Chinese ceramics evolved over the centuries in this short, informative documentary by the Shanghai Museum. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn6Kexvz00U

China's eggshell pottery (Chinese history)

 

Ever heard of China's black eggshell pottery goblets?

Watch this documentary to find out what makes these pieces from the Longshan Culture so rare and unique.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l6s0LgBeks