Chinese Porcelain

Question 1

What is Porcelain?

Answer 1

• Porcelain is a building material made out of white Kaolin Clay and Feldspar (decomposed granite), that produces a hard, thin, translucent, and resonant (rings when hit) ceramic wear when fired at high temperatures.
• Invented in the 7th century Tang Dynasty

Question 2

What were the four main styles of porcelain?

Answer 2

1. Tang Style
2. Song Style
3. Ming Style
4. Qing Style

Question 3

What were the characteristics of Tang style porcelain?

Answer 3

• Tang porcelain was noted for simple shapes and clearly defined parts
• Xing ware is one notable white porcelain from the north.

Question 4

What were the characteristics of Song style porcelain?

Answer 4

• Noted for elegant simplicity of shapes and surfaces; minimal orientation, usually monochromatic wares; parts of vessels flow gracefully into each other
• Sometimes color, translucence, veined surface of Jade imitated

Question 5

What were the characteristics of Ming style porcelain?

Answer 5

• First porcelain to reach the west in the 15th century
• Noted for blue and white ware, although white ware and monochromatic colored glazes also produced (liver red/yellow wear)
• Dragons were a favorite Ming emblem, a symbol of the collective powers of nature and linked to imperial power
• Dragon chasing flaming jewel = Dragon’s association with supernatural wisdom and association with the sun

Question 6

What were the characteristics of Qing style porcelain?

Answer 6

• Noted for enameled glazing in new luminous colors and highly decorated multi-colored wares
• Pictoral imagery, complex “all over” decoration
• Vase shapes emphasize height and grandeur of form
• Multicolored Qing porcelain had families: Famile Verte, Famille Rose, Famille Noir. etc.
• Popularized “Blanc de Chine” whitewear porcelain figures in France and England