Chinese Art: Pottery / Ceramics
The history of Chinese ceramic art began some eight thousand years ago with the crafting of hand-molded earthenware vessels. Soon after, in the late Neolithic period, the potter's wheel was invented facilitating the production of more uniform vessels. The sophistication of these early Chinese artists (potters) is best exemplified by the legion of terracotta army found in the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi (221-207 BC).
Blue-and-white porcelain was first produced under the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368 AD). Baked at an extremely high temperature, porcelain is characterized by the purity of its kaolin clay body. Potters of the subsequent Ming dynasty (1368-1644) perfected these blue-and-white wares so that they soon came to represent the virtuosity of the Chinese potter. Jingedezhen, in Jiangxi province, became the center of a porcelain industry that not only produced vast quantities of imperial wares, but also exported products as far a field as Turkey. While styles of decorative motif and vessel shape changed with the ascension to the throne of each new Ming emperor, the quality of Ming blue-and-whites are indisputably superior to that of any other time period.
The quality of Chinese porcelain began to decline from the end of the Qing dynasty as political instability took its inevitable toll on the arts. However, the production of porcelain is being revived as Chinese culture gains greater recognition both at home and abroad. In addition to modern interpretations, numerous kiln centers have been established to reproduce the more traditional styles.
From the ancient kilns in the Dehua region to the current ceramic capital of the world, Jingdezhen, we have selected many pieces that can be adapted to almost any décor. Our selection includes many of the more common types and styles such as the "double happiness" ginger jars to limited production items from some of the ceramic masters in Jingdezhen.
  
Also See: HISTORY OF EARLY CHINESE ART: CERAMICS
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