Holly+porcelain

= Chinese Porcelain = = = This is an example of a traditional ming dynasty (AD 1522-66) porcelain vase. It was sold at a 2009 auction in london for 250,000 pounds.This style of pottery is very old and highly valued, and is varied slightly according to color, shape, and craftsman quality. Here are some other examples.

This is an antique chinese style vase,with a colorful bird on it. This vase has none of the traditional blue coloring, but still has the oriental feel. This was the idea of what the first chinese porcelain looked like. It was practical, and sturdy.

** The Beginnings of Chinese Porcelain ** The Chinese began to create pottery as early as the Wei Bak Wen dynastly, that was 18,000 years ago. The pottery was uniform and dirt colored, and sometimes black. Glazed pottery was introduced in the Western Zhou dynasty, but it only began to be widely used in the Han dynasty. **The Introduction of Color** China was made in the the same way with the same colors and materials until the Tang dynastly. The artisans in that period introduced color to pottery. Although they only used a reddish clay color, and a deep rich blue, (as shown in the first picture,) porcelain began to take flight. Three colored statues were fashioned after emperors, animals, and even tombs. Later, in the Ming dynasty, the dragon and the phoenix were the most popular decorative designs on ceramic wares. **The Continuance of Porcelain** The fashionable designs of Chia Ching and Wan Li dynasties are usually fully covered with colorful patterns. But, very often the colors were a bit too flamboyant. The colors used include red, yellow, light and dark green, brown, and the same rich blue. In the Ming dynasty, a variety of porcelain wares were decorated with designs coming up on colored ground instead. They included wares with green glazed pattern on a yellow ground, yellow glazed pattern on a blue ground, green glazed pattern on a red ground and some other color combinations. ** The Peak of Porcelain ** The peak of Chinese ceramic production was seen in the reign of Emperor Kang Hsi,during which improvement had seen in almost all ceramic types, including the blue and white styles. The porcelain industry had never been better. ** The Fall of the China Industry ** When Emperor Ming was taken over by Emperor Qing, and when Qing was taken over by the Republic of China in the roevolution,the disturbances in these two periods resulted in the collapse of the official kilns. In their places, private kilns were established by the operators and artists who previously worked in the official kilns. With their skills, they produced high quality porcelain pieces. Porcelain pieces made during the changing of Ming to Qing earned high praise in Germany, India, and America. But all good things must come to an end. When war broke out, all kilns, public and private, were closed. The operators artists separated, and many of them traveled to the south, trying to make a living. When peace came in 1945, peace led to the re-establishment of the pottery industry. However, although the creamics industry is still slightly growing, the industry was never the same.
 * How we use Pottery Today ** We use pottery today as fancy dinner ware, or decorative vases. Porcelain can come in all styles and colors, but all are beautiful!