Categories of 

Chinese Ceramic Art

The most important types of Chinese Porcelain and Stoneware Ceramics are explained below.  See many examples of each style by going to the Ceramics Directory of The Chalre Collection of Asian Ceramic Art.

Blue and White 

Porcelain
(Main Period: 1400 to 1700 AD)
 
Underglaze Blue Porcelain is the best known type of ceramics. It is often referred to as 'Blue and White' from its blue cobalt oxide painted below the glaze. The reason Chinese Porcelain became so famous is probably because it was traded widely by Europeans from the 17th century onward. By that time, China had already been exporting Blue and White Porcelain to the Middle East and Southeast Asia for centuries. 

 
The first Portuguese merchants to visit China eventually realized the value of the "white gold" and started importing limited quantities for the nobles of Europe. It was in 1603 that the Dutch East India Company (VOC) sent a load of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain to Amsterdam where it was sold for an enormous profit. From that date on, Chinese Blue and White Porcelain became known as the finest in the world and much desired in Europe and later in North America. 

Blue and White Porcelain first appeared during the Yuan dynasty (1127 - 1279) but became so pervasive during the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644) that today Blue and White and Ming are commonly used interchangeably.  

CLICK HERE to see examples of Blue and White Porcelain from 

The Chalre Collection.

White 

Porcelain

(Main Period: 1000 to 1400 AD)

White Porcelains began to be made on a large scale at Jingdezhen and at many other southern kilns from the time of the Song dynasty (960 - 1279).  The most famous of the early Porcelains was qingbai (pronounced ching-pie).  Whiteware Ceramics were traded throughout Southeast Asia.  Until eclipsed by Blue and White Porcelain  in the 14th century, it was the dominant Chinese Ceramic of its era.   

Qingbai (also called yingqing) translates literally as "clear bluish-white."  The jade-like texture of the Porcelain results from the clear glaze that contains iron in small amounts. When applied over a white Porcelain body the glaze produces a greenish-blue colour. Some have incised or molded decorations.  

CLICK HERE to see examples of Whiteware Ceramics from 

The Chalre Collection.

Celadon 

Ceramics

(Main Period: 1000 to 1600 AD)

Celadon is a western word used originally to describe the green glaze of Ceramics from Longquan in China. The glaze is made of clay mixed with wood ash and is 2-5% iron, and must be fired in an oxygen reduced atmosphere. 
 
The Celadon method began to be used in the 7th century in China. By the time of the Song dynasty (960-1280), the skills of the potters had advanced to a high degree that fine vessels had a jade-like appearance and texture. By the 14th century, motifs such as lotus flowers and stylized chrysanthemums were incised for decoration.
 
Celadon production in Thailand seems to have started in the later part of the 14th century - around the time of the 'Ming ban' of 1371 when emperor Hongwu decided to prohibit his subjects from trading with all other people. It is thought that Chinese migrants were responsible for development of early Celadon production in Thailand. 

CLICK HERE to see examples of Celadon from 

The Chalre Collection.

Qing Dynasty

Porcelain

(Main Period: 1700 to 1900 AD)

During the Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), potters began using bright colours to adorn plates and vases with meticulously painted scenes. Porcelain ceramicists began producing five-coloured ware by applying a variety of underglaze pigments to floral, landscape and figurative scenes - a style which was (and is) highly sought-after in the West. 

During the Yung Cheng era (1723-1735) Porcelain was enhanced by the development of fencai enamel in a wide range of colours and tones.

CLICK HERE to see examples of Multi-Colour Porcelain from

The Chalre Collection.

Underglaze Black 

Porcelain

(Main Period: 1400 to 1700 AD)

Long before the Chinese made Blue and White Porcelain using cobalt, a black iron oxide was used to paint motifs below a clear protecting glaze. This technique, used at Cizhou in northern China, developed independently from the Celadon production in southern China.
 

By the 14th century, the so-called underglaze technique appeared in Thailand and Vietnam. Fish and chrysanthemums, representing long life and happiness, were preferred at Thailand. In Vietnam, a flower motif was common. 

It is highly possible that the underglaze decoration technique (painting with oxides and then applying glaze) arrived in both Thailand and Vietnam with immigrating Chinese potters. 
 

CLICK HERE to see examples of Underglaze Black from 

The Chalre Collection.

Tang Dynasty

Ceramics

(Main Period: 700 to 900 AD)

Early Chinese Coloured Stoneware is often called Sancai which means three-colours.  However, the colours of the glazes used to decorate the wares of the Tang dynasty (618 - 911) were not limited to three in number. In the West, Tang Sancai wares were sometimes referred to as egg-and-spinach by dealers for the use of green, yellow and white. Though the latter of the two colours might be more properly described as amber and off-white / cream.
 
Sancai wares originate from northern China. At kiln sites located at Tongchuan, Neiqui county in Hebei and Gongxian in Henan, the clays used for burial wares were similar to those used by Tang potters. The burial wares were fired at a lower temperature than contemporary whiteware. 

Burial wares, such as the well-known representations of camels and horses, were cast in sections, in moulds with the parts luted together. In some cases, a degree of individuality was imparted to the assembled figurines by hand-carving.

CLICK HERE to see examples of Tang Pottery from 

The Chalre Collection.

Earthenware

Pottery

(Main Period: 1000 to 1600 AD)

 
Earthenware is the earliest type of pottery and is known to have existed for the past 10.000 years. Secondary clay was formed on the pottery wheel or rolled into strings and laid on top of another to form the pot. Earthenware was commonly fired in simple open pits and therefore found in most early civilizations. Firing temperatures normally reached 400C to 700C.
 
It is thought that most of the Earthenware found its way on trade ships as necessities of the men sailing the ships. Their limited number suggests that Earthenware was never made for export.

CLICK HERE to see examples of Earthenware from 

The Chalre Collection.

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of Asian Ceramic Art