The Joy of Blue and White Porcelain

Early Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, ca. 13th Century, from the Yuan Dynasty; Jingdezhen porcelain. The earliest Chinese blue and white porcelains were made during the Kangxi period, but only fragments have so far been found. At the time, there was great interest in working with metals, and potters of the time experimented with all types of techniques to create new colors. This new blue and white Porcelain was not a natural product, and its manufacture posed certain risks. Most of the early Chinese blue and white pottery examples were destroyed during the fire.

In the Kangxi period, a different technique was adopted that lead to more stable and attractive porcelain. After the Dynasty of Kangxi (the period immediately following the unification of China), the skills of the ceramic artists of the Tang Dynasty faded somewhat. The whole process of manufacturing blue and white slipware was not abandoned, but it was relegated to the back burners. For the most part, the artisans of this time simply enhanced what they already produced. The Japanese rediscovered the skill that was developed to make blue and white slipware during the mid-nineteenth century, and it came to be known as pottery.

Discovery of Pottery-

The discovery of pottery opened the way to a whole new field. Many different techniques and methods of making porcelain wares were discovered, including blue and green glazing. One of the most important innovations was found in the shape of the glaze. Instead of being a continuous sheet, the glaze was made of small pieces of blue-green glass that were fused together. This glazing method gave the potter's a much sturdier glaze than the cobalt pigment glaze used in earlier Chinese Porcelain.

Through the processes of pottery, the colors of the light glaze were varied enough to be blended into any color of the sky, giving birth to the technique of multi-colored porcelains. Soon after discovering the glaze, another important development was found in the raw materials needed to manufacture the Porcelain. The blue-green glass was no longer enough. Potters now used white pigments and other pigments of higher temperatures to create the first Chinese blue and white Porcelain.

The use of the blue-and-white technique became widespread during the Qing Dynasty of China. Between the third and seventh centuries, this colorful Porcelain was widely used. It was most often used to decorate the interior of the royal courts. Throughout the years, the popularity of the blue-and-white technique of Porcelain remained steady.

Popularity in Western Markets-

As years passed, the Chinese would also develop a variety of blue and white pottery items. This was not a sudden occurrence, as, by the late sixteenth century, the Chinese people were already producing their own versions of the blue-and-white wares. However, during the nineteenth century, the Chinese began using blue glaze to make extremely durable porcelains.

Since Chinese ceramics began appearing on western markets, the popularity of this type of decoration has greatly increased. Today, antique collectors are still able to find a number of blue and white porcelains being offered for sale in antique shops. In addition, there are a significant number of modern-day porcelains that are created using this technique. These types of wares have now become highly sought after by collectors. They are being purchased, sold, and traded for by people all around the world.

The discovery of the blue-and-white pottery originated from a discovery made by Dutch deluxe potters. At the time, the people of Holland were making blue-and-white mosaic tiles for their homes and using them for building purposes. Over time, the blue-and-white tiles started appearing on various other objects, such as ceiling decorations, tableware, dishes, and other pieces of furniture.