Chinese Ceramics: A Brief History of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain
Blue and White Porcelain, Its a long story!
China's long history of pottery and subsequent porcelain development has been punctuated throughout with moments of stunning artistic and technical genius. Between these evolved developments are thousands of smaller evolution's, all of which combined and led to the creation of China's absolute un-rivaled history in the craft of ceramics and porcelain making. Not the least of which has been Chinese blue and white porcelain history.
From humble un-decorated food and religious pottery created in the Mesolithic {pre Neolithic} times right through the fussy over decorated wares of the Republic period. All have come into being by way of potters, artists and kiln operators seeking to innovate. Innovation inspired by demand and shaped by cultural contexts.
Neolithic Period, Early Wares
Neolithic Early Pottery
In the earliest times, pre 4800 BC., the hand of the potter worked to satisfy the varied demands of his community. Farmers needing to store foodstuffs for survival, mixing bowls for the kitchen and for religious rituals. According to most historians, it was during the Neolithic (5000-3000 BC) period that the Yang-shao Culture living in the Yellow River basin produced the first documented decorated pots. Additional examples were made by the Lung-Shan Culture. In time, the technology of potting and decorating became wide spread throughout China as is evidenced by archaeology.
It is important to keep in mind, like everything in China these changes took place over thousands of years literally. Consequently, no clear line really marks one form or type as distinct from the previous. So the term change is not from year to year, but century-to-century, truly a slow evolution.
The evolution of Potting Early Technology
By the 3rd millennium, red earthenware's were being made and decorated with pleasingly executed incised, stamped and painted. These designs varied from region to region the way so much art does all over the world. Despite competent preparation of the clay, these pieces retained high iron content levels causing oxidization turning a reddish after firing.
Gradually many new forms and styles evolved, for lack of a better term certain types became "trendy" or "popular". Eventually, certain examples became totally ubiquitous in from with wide loop handled bowls, jars, ewers and stem cups. In the 3rd millennium {3,000 BC} the first high speed potter's wheel came into use. From this came more refined turnings, more control in the desired thinness resulting in satisfying proportions. Consequently, pots became lighter and consistent in shape. This consistency helped greatly in identifying the region from which pieces came.
From Earthenware to Porcelains and then Glazes!
Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, the beginnings
The motivations driving these potter's through these creative evolution's are many, varied and very often if not always combined with one another. Outside influences coupled with natural human curiosity and occasional genius have proven to be great additional catalysts. From Earthenware high fired Porcelain happened in overlapping periods under the watchful eye of skilled artisans during several thousand years.
Chinese Blue and White porcelain basin, Yuan Dynasty
In time glazes were developed, forms became much more complicated, under glaze pigments evolved and fired vitreous porcelains emerged. Glazes initially were developed to make pots and jars impermeable to liquids. Glaze development simultaneously opened the door to a new wider variety of decorations. Eventually cobalt was added before glazing the piece. After which high-fired enamels were developed for overe glaze decorations, broadening the palette enormously for the ceramicist.
Each period had its evolution's, some much more dramatic than others depending often on the level interest by regional Governors and the Imperial house itself. Not all artists of course were potters. Whether they were sculptors, painters, poets, silver and metal smiths and calligraphers they were all guided by the political and social times of there environment. During periods of extreme turmoil the arts suffered and little progress was made.
Every aspect of ceramic art has it's own history. One category in particular, which has enjoyed massive interest from collectors, is under glaze blue and white. Blue and white porcelain has been coveted by Emperors, Kings, wealthy Hong Merchants, Buddhists, Popes, Dutch Captains and everyone it seems in between.
Mongol China, Trade, Persian Traders and of Course: Let them have Cobalt!
Blue and white had its beginnings in the most logical of progressions. By the 6th or 7th C. Chinese potters had been making white bodied pottery, by the Tang dynasty these white wares had become more refined and fired with purer materials with clear smooth glazes. During the Song periods porcelain and ceramic art had gone through several great technical changes which set the stage for making even better white wares. From a potting standpoint the stage was set. So, where did cobalt blue compounds come from? Look to the West, by the Yuan (1279 - 1368) period Muslims established trading posts in China. Persian merchants imported dye stuffs and minerals used for painting and potting to trade in China. Among these were included cobalt oxide used in making cobalt blue, which revolutionized Chinese ceramics.
Another great evolution from the Song to the Yuan (1279 - 1368) was the introduction of and increased use of Feldspar glazes replacing Lime glazes. Feldspar allowed a much tighter closer fit to the kaolin and petunse when the piece was fired, allowing for a much more controllable environment for under glaze decoration.
Chinese Blue and White Porcelain history began during the Yuan Dynasty when China under Mongol rule began importing cobalt through Persian merchants.
During this period under the Mongols, several million Muslims moved to China and became a very active merchant class throughout the country. The Persians had by this time been using cobalt to decorate low fired pots for centuries. Interestingly the Muslim traders were not able to get the Chinese to divulge how they made porcelain. It would be hundreds of years more before Europe would be able to make high-fired porcelain. It was however this trade which began the flow of blue and white to the Middle East and the Muslim world. It was during this time that Chinese blue and white porcelain was truly born.
Chinese blue and white porcelain basin,Yuan Dynasty with cobalt decoration
At its peak, the Mongolian/Yuan (1279 - 1368) Empire stretched from China and Annam/Vietnam to Europe, making it geographically the largest Empire in history. During this era trade expanded vastly throughout the empire.
The Yuan Empire bordered a huge part of the known world and most of that world was terrified of the Mongols due to their history. This reputation went a long way to building much of their empire bloodlessly. In the later years of the Empire, that power collapsed due to internal fights for power.
A Quick Evolution
Once Chinese potters embraced the use of cobalt blue they were able to create complex and spectacular decorations on porcelain. Many of these decorated pieces were massive examples including large bowls, vases and ewers. In a very short period of time demand outside of China skyrocketed driving up prices to astounding levels.
The Emirs of Turkey, Shahs of Persia and Raj's of India collected and coveted them. Resulting in some of the finest and largest collections extant in the world today. This fascination and collecting impulse lasted from the Yuan and well into the Qing dynasty in the Middle-east.
Chinese Blue and White and Trade
Today the Topkapi Palace Museum in Turkey has one of the most important collections in the world of Chinese porcelains. During the late 15th C. Turkish potters even made Iznik wares to emulate the Yuan (1279 - 1368) pieces. In time these Turkish creations developed their own flavor, becoming more middle eastern than early examples brought from China. The Turkish examples were not porcelain, but pottery as they never learned how to make it. The making of porcelain was a closely guarded secret, on a par with Chinese techniques for making silk.
Early on many believed cobalt blue decorated porcelain was thought to have magical properties, including being able to detect poisons. By the end of the Mongol period ships laden with porcelains were flooding the known world. As a consequence of the high esteem for them, very large collections have survived around the Mediterranean. It is interesting to note, very little moved overland in caravans on animals due to the weight and as a result were carried by ships.
After establishing trade with Persia (Iran) and Turkey during {13th to 14th C} China cultivated massive amounts of trade across their empire . The evidence today of how much was sent to the west is can be seen at the Ardebil Shrine. The collection owned by Shah Abbas is now one of largest accumulations in the world of Yuan and Ming blue and white. From the original collection comprising 1,162 pieces, 805 are still there today. 75 percent of which are blue and white, the rest are Celadons and white wares.
The Rapid Rise in Blue and White and Quality
Once under glaze cobalt blue decoration was introduced, the brushwork on porcelains of the Yuan period attained an astonishingly high level of quality very quickly. As a new medium the potters of the Yuan took to it with gusto. The decorations were bold and drawn with stunning confidence and inspiration more skillfully with a new spontaneity not see before on any piece of Asian ceramics.
The repertoire of Yuan period porcelain designs was incredibly vast as were the shapes of the pieces they produced. These designs included scrolling vines, flowers, animated ducks, Foo lions, wave borders, dragons, phoenixes', lappets, immortals, script, fish scaled deer, grapes and almost any possible combination and more than can be listed here. The forms and shapes of the pieces varied from foliate-rimmed basins and massive platters to Meiping vases, slap constructed double gourd vases, ewers, rounded bowls and every possible shape of jar and vase.
Sometimes these were done on huge basins and plates with foliate rims to deep rounded side bowls, Meiping vases, flasks and many other creative shapes.
Suddenly Pieces Got Huge -Why the Great Shift?
Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Yongle Period Bowl with Grapes Pattern
Chinese Blue and White Porcelain
Prior to the Yuan Period in the Northern and Southern Song period ceramics were relatively small. Qingbai, Hairs-fur bowls and so forth. When the Mongols under Qubili Khan the son of Ghengis Khan took over China they created the largest geographical country in history. The Mongol Empire extended from Korea and Annam to Austria.
This incredible shift in size begs the question: What prompted the making of these massive wares? What was the impetus for the kiln operators to suddenly make the huge pieces associated often with the Yuan period?
The answer is a fascinating one. At a time when the technical skills developed to make Chinese blue and white porcelain the Mongol leader (Quibili) Kublai Khan was simultaneously unifying China forming the Yuan Dynasty. It was during this time China's kilns introduced here to fore never before seen varieties, forms, patterns and sizes of stunning porcelains.
Big Banquets Require Big Dishes and Bowls
According to available records through cookbooks of the era, we now know that the dietary pleasures of China's new rulers was the stimulus. The Mongols enjoyed a massive selection of foods from across their empire they were perhaps the first truly international diners. Frequent grand feasts with big bowls of stews, whole roasted lamb, sweetmeats demanded serving pieces of mass. Consequently, the fashion and demand was for great big feasting bowls, pitchers, jars, platters and so forth.
As these huge elegant intricate pieces entered the market, the Islamic world took notice and enamored of these exotic objects. Cobalt blue and what the Chinese were able to do beyond the limitations of Middle Eastern potters was an amazement. The Middle-Eastern production of crude quartz glazed blue stoneware bowls was instantly overshadowed by the Chinese examples. These immense fantastically decorated high-fired porcelains were an instant hit throughout the empire especially in the Islamic world. Soon the decorative palette became endless incorporating all manner of designs and patterns. They included animals, Buddhist symbols, clouds, Ruyi heads, mythical beasts and flowers.
It was during this era that Chinese blue and white porcelain was really born. The methods of physically making these very big pieces at such high temperatures were no small feat.
This early influx of pieces to the Middle East are still there. Interestingly, these big pieces also still turn up from time to time in the market stalls of Bazaars in Syria and Iran (Old Persia)
After The Yuan
Following this short dynasty, China was taken back under Chinese control by the young future Hongwu Emperor (1328 - 1398). This period became known to the world as the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). From there the manufacturing of Chinese blue and white porcelain continued unabated and continues to be among the worlds most favorite porcelains to this day.
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