Identification of Ming and Qing Dynasty Folk Kiln Porcelain: Tianqi and Chongzhen Volume

Author: Tie Yuan, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The history of porcelain production in China is long-standing, with an extensive variety of types, rich forms, exquisite craftsmanship, and unique styles, all of which are rare in the world. The fundamental attributes of porcelain at that time combined practicality with aesthetics, holding significant importance in meeting people's material and spiritual needs. Today, most porcelain before the Republic of China has lost its practical value, retaining only aesthetic value. The Ming emperors Tianqi and Chongzhen ruled for 24 years. During this period, imperial kiln production ceased, while folk kiln production continued to develop after the reigns of the Jiajing, Longqing, and Wanli emperors, eventually surpassing imperial kilns and reaching the peak of Ming folk porcelain. Due to the absence of imperial kiln pieces from this era, specialized works on porcelain from this period are extremely rare, and when they do exist, they are often referred to as late Ming to early Qing. From the perspective of ceramic development history, late Ming to early Qing porcelain does share similarities, but influenced by the era's environment, social customs, and aesthetic tastes, there must be differences between the two. This book uses a large number of dated pieces, archaeological finds, and typological methods to compare and contrast typical wares from the two dynasties, providing detailed descriptions of their forms, bodies, bases, pigments, glazes, decorations, and inscriptions. It summarizes the characteristics of the era and offers unique insights, supported by reliable and extensive data, making it a highly practical tool for identifying folk porcelain.