Types of Asian Ceramics

By: Richard Mills
Submitted: 2009-06-24 12:50:31
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Blue-and-White Porcelain
(Main Period: 1400 to 1700 AD)

Underglaze Blue Porcelain is the best known type of ceramic tradeware. It is often referred to as `Blue-and-white' from its 'underglaze blue' (blue cobalt oxide 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 exported Blue and White Asian Porcelain blue-and-white porcelain to the Middle East and Southeast Asia for five centuries.

The first Portuguese merchants to visit China eventually realized the value of the "white gold" and started importing limited quantities for the nobles ofBlue and White Asian Porcelain Europe. It was however first in 1603 that the Dutch East India Company (VOC) sent a load of 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 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. 

Whiteware Ceramics
(Main Period: 1000 to 1400 AD)

Whiteware 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 Whiteware Qingbai Asian Porcelain and Stonewarewas qingbai (pronounced ching-pie).  Whiteware porcelains were traded throughout Southeast Asia.  Until eclipsed by blue-and-white in the 14th century, it was the dominant Chinese porcelain of its era.  

Whiteware Qingbai Asian Porcelain and StonewareQingbai (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 moulded decorations. 

Celadon Stoneware
(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.

Celadon Asian Stoneware 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 Asian Stoneware 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.

Multi-Coloured Qing 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 Multi-Colour Asian Porcelain of Qing Dynasty 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.

Underglaze Black Ceramics
(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.

Three-Colour Stoneware
(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, NeiquiTri-Colour Sancai Asian Stoneware of Tang Dynasty 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.

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.

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.

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