History of Asian Ceramics

By: Richard Mills
Submitted: 2009-06-25 12:20:47
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It has been established that the Chinese created some of the world’s first ceramics eight thousand years ago with the fashioning of hand-molded earthenware containers. In the late neolithic times, the potter's wheel was developed enabling a dramatic advancement in Earthenware  pottery. The sophistication of early Chinese potters is irrefutably demonstrated by the famed terracotta warriors uncovered by archaeologists in the tomb of Emperor Qin (259-210 BCE).

Over the centuries, China maintained its dominant position as the producer of ceramics as countless new technologies and styles were developed.  One of the most important was the Tri-Colour Stoneware of the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE), named after the bright yellow, green and white glazes.  This period also marked the first wide-spread use of ceramic as a decorative medium of art.

Another type of pottery that developed during the Tang period was qingci, known more commonly to English speakers as Celadon.  This style often has a greenish glaze and usually simply but elegantly shaped.  Celadons were so successful that production continued in China for centuries afterward and was traded widely throughout much of Southeast Asia.

During the Song dynasty (960-1279 CE), Whiteware Ceramics became a dominant form.  The style became one of the most successful ceramic types ever produced in China and was widely traded throughout Southeast Asia.  One form of whiteware that became particularly popular as a traded ceramic was Qingbai which literally means “bluish-white ware” and has a jade-like texture.

Blue-and-White Porcelain was first created during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368 CE).  Fired at higher temperature than earthenware, porcelain is characterized by a glass-like finish of its whitish clay body.  Potters of the later Ming dynasty (1368-1644 CE) advanced the art of blue-and-white porcelain to such a degree that most people today think of the style as uniquely Chinese.

The Qing (pronounced Ching) period (1644-1911 CE) was the last of the imperial dynasties and saw innovative Multi-Coloured Porcelain designs that reached a new peak in popularity, particularly in the west.

Chinese Dynasty Timeline

Asian Ceramics are usually dated according to the reigns of Chinese dynasties when the artifacts were produced.  Below are listed the more important dynastic periods of China. 

Han Dynasty
Western Han (206 BC - 24 AD)
Eastern Han (25 AD - 220 AD)

Three Kingdoms Period
(220 AD - 280 AD)

Jin Dynasty
Western Jin (265 AD - 316 AD)
Eastern Jin (317 AD - 420 AD)

Southern and Northern Dynasties
Northern Dynasties (386 AD - 581 AD)
Southern Dynasties (420 AD - 589 AD)

Sui Dynasty
(581 AD - 618 AD)

Tang Dynasty
(618 AD - 907 AD)

Five Dynasties and Ten States
Five Dynasties
- Later Liang (907 AD - 923 AD)
- Later Tang (923 AD - 936 AD)
- Later Jin (936 AD - 946 AD)
- Later Han (947 AD - 951 AD)
- Later Zhou (951 AD - 960 AD)

Sung Dynasty
(960 AD -1279 AD)

Yuan Dynasty
(1271 AD - 1368 AD)

Ming Dynasty
(1368 AD - 1644 AD)

Qing Dynasty
(1644 AD - 1911 AD)

With upwards of 2,000 pieces, The Chalre Collection is one of the largest non-institutional Ceramic Art collections in the Southeast Asia region.  It is also one of the most diverse comprising pottery styles used over the past 1,500 years.   It is the intention of the principals that a significant portion of the Chalre collection will become the property of a museum or other public body at an appropriate time in the future.   

Chalre Associates is an Executive Search partner to multinational corporations throughout the Asia Pacific region but with specific focus in Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.  The principals are active in promoting the industries they serve through the Asia CEO Forum (http://www.asia-ceo.org) and other means.  

Article source: Expert Articles