Metal Enamel Fine

Author: Li Jiufang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Metal-core enamelware can be divided into "cloisonné enamel" (commonly known as Jingtailan) and "painted enamel" (foreign porcelain). This book collects 244 pieces of imperial enamelware, systematically presenting them to you from the Yuan Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. The book provides professional dating analysis of enamelware and meticulous descriptions of their artistic characteristics, representing the culmination of years of research by the Palace Museum. It is absolutely worth collecting. Enamel products are complex in craftsmanship and high in cost, making them collectible only by the imperial family. Kangxi once specially summoned artisans from France to paint enamelware. Yongzheng would offer comments on pieces with poor firing quality, while Qianlong even personally inquired about the production status of the enamel workshop in the Imperial Workshops. Enamelware is undoubtedly a symbol of imperial status. The patterns of enamel craftsmanship are exquisite and diverse, featuring traditional flowers, animals, and auspicious creatures, as well as works based on the works of famous ancient calligraphers (such as the Tang Dynasty's "Emperor Ming's Test of Horses"), and in the late Qing Dynasty, depictions of Western landscapes and figures emerged, offering a wealth of themes that are breathtaking. The enamel craft was originally introduced from the Arab region and later influenced by European techniques. Many Western missionaries and painters participated in its production. The development and achievements of metal-core enamelware craftsmanship are of great reference value for studying cultural exchanges between China and the West. Metal-core enamelware is made with metal cores and primarily uses quartz and feldspar as glazes, fired into colorful enamel products. Depending on manufacturing methods and craftsmanship characteristics, it can be divided into: cloisonné enamel (commonly known as Jingtailan) and painted enamel. The craftsmanship is complex, with high difficulty in glaze preparation and firing technology, and high production costs, making it collectible only by the imperial family. It was mainly popular in the imperial court and rarely circulated among the common people. This volume collects 244 precious pieces from the Yuan Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, all imperial enamelware left by the Qing court, showcasing the development and achievements of metal-core enamelware craftsmanship. Metal-core enamelware is made with metal cores and primarily uses quartz and feldspar as glazes, fired into colorful enamel products. It can be divided into two major categories based on manufacturing methods and craftsmanship characteristics: cloisonné enamel and painted enamel. Cloisonné enamel, commonly known as "Jingtailan," is the main variety of line enamel, which also includes chiseled-core enamel and the later-developed hammered-core enamel. Cloisonné enamel and chiseled-core enamel were introduced to China around the mid-13th century from the Arab region. Painted enamel, commonly known as "foreign porcelain," was introduced to China around the early 17th century from Europe. After these two enamel products with different characteristics were introduced to China, their techniques were quickly adopted by Chinese craftsmen and quickly produced works with Chinese national styles. Due to the complex craftsmanship of metal-core enamelware, the high difficulty in glaze preparation and firing technology, and the high production costs, this precious enamelware was mainly produced in the imperial court for a long period, for the enjoyment of the emperor and the imperial family. A small number of enamelware were also given as valuable gifts by the emperor to princes and ministers, while they rarely circulated among the common people. The Palace Museum of Beijing houses approximately 6,000 imperial enamelware pieces with clear historical lineage. This volume selects 244 representative and precious pieces, showcasing the development and achievements of Chinese metal-core enamelware craftsmanship and providing important materials for the dating research of "Jingtailan." During editing, we used the earliest part of the main body of modified objects as the basis for dating. For example, although no intact Yuan Dynasty enamelware is preserved in the museum, some modified pieces still belong to Yuan Dynasty originals and are included in the Yuan Dynasty. As for Ming Dynasty enamelware from the Jingtai era, there is still no standard piece to date, and they are generally categorized into the mid-Ming Dynasty based on craftsmanship style.