Ming Dynasty porcelain

Author: Shi Shuqing, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: China Water Conservancy and Electric Power Press is a central-level publishing organization with a rigorous work ethic, meticulous management, and over 40 years of history. It is among the first batch of "National Outstanding Publishers." Initially, it primarily published scientific and technical publications on water conservancy and electricity. With the expansion of its business and strengthened capabilities, it has now successively published a wide range of publications in civil construction, computer science, tourism, and other fields, earning the approval and praise of readers. On this basis, we are committed to promoting the spirit of scientific exploration and upholding traditional culture, striving to integrate science and art, and blending publishing with culture, doing our part to preserve traditional Chinese art. For this purpose, we are honored to invite the renowned art appraiser, Mr. Shi Shuqing, to compile this series of "Investment and Appraisal of Chinese Artworks," with the strong support of Yachang Enterprise Co., Ltd. We extend our gratitude to them here. Compared to other published books in the same category, the greatest feature of this series is that the experts combine their years of experience to analyze the key points of collecting and appreciating various types of artworks, making every word invaluable. Nearly 300 artworks in each book are carefully selected and thoroughly analyzed by the experts, making them highly representative and informative. Through reading and appreciation, readers can not only gain comprehensive knowledge of artworks but also master the essence of appraising them. This series is highly suitable for art collectors and enthusiasts from all walks of life. To save space, this series uses abbreviations for auction companies, such as "China" referring to "China International Auction Company," etc. All monetary units in the book are in "ten thousand yuan," and all dimensions are in "centimeters," and so on, without further elaboration—please note.
The Ming Dynasty was a significant period in the history of Chinese porcelain development. During this time, both imperial kilns and private kilns saw notable advancements in porcelain production techniques. Building on the traditional focus on single-color glazes inherited from the Song and Yuan dynasties, the Ming Dynasty vigorously developed multi-color glazes, (doubao), and various colored glaze porcelains. The blue-and-white porcelain of Jingdezhen also further developed and refined during the Ming Dynasty, evolving from a mature porcelain variety in the Yuan Dynasty to a perfectly refined and flourishing mainstream in the country. The prosperity of the Ming porcelain industry, where both imperial and private kilns competed in the market, not only established the position of Ming porcelain in the history of ceramics but also laid a solid foundation for the brilliance of Qing Dynasty porcelain.
Throughout the Ming Dynasty, Jingdezhen was the hub of porcelain production, where the finest and most exquisite ceramics were made. The blue-and-white, white, colored, and single-color glaze porcelains of Jingdezhen during the Ming Dynasty combined the strengths of famous kilns from various regions in past dynasties, continuously improving and innovating in porcelain production techniques, achieving remarkable accomplishments and establishing Jingdezhen as the center of porcelain production in the country.
Apart from Jingdezhen, Longquan kilns in Zhejiang and Dehua kilns in Fujian were also renowned during the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty porcelain shapes were characterized by fullness, thickness, and simplicity, with soft and rounded lines, showcasing a rustic and solemn beauty. At the same time, over the 270 years of the Ming Dynasty, the differences in living habits, aesthetic standards, and technical conditions across different historical periods led to porcelain shapes reflecting distinct characteristics of each era.
This book introduces the knowledge of collecting and appraising Ming Dynasty porcelain and provides appreciation of nearly 300 exquisite pieces.