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We've touched on Wanli before, but it's useful to revisit the significance of his period specifically in relation to trade. The Wanli reign (1572-1620) saw the continued expansion of the Chinese porcelain trade, and many pieces produced during this time were specifically designed to meet the demands of export markets around the world. This period of high volume pottery production was key to the economic prosperity of the region and demonstrates the importance of pottery in international commerce. The increasing global demand for Chinese porcelain during the Wanli period led to the large-scale production of ceramics at Jingdezhen and other kilns, and the scale of production during this period was unprecedented and it demonstrates the importance of global trade in shaping the development of Chinese pottery. Wanli-era export ceramics often feature a unique blend of Chinese and foreign decorative styles and are especially useful for understanding the blending of cultures at this time. The success of the Wanli porcelain trade underscores the interconnectedness of global economies and artistic traditions during the late Ming period. The study of Wanli export wares provides valuable insights into the cross-cultural exchanges that took place along trade routes at this time, and also demonstrates the lasting impact of Chinese pottery production on artistic styles in other parts of the world. |
Tag : Ming Wanli trade, Chinese export, global commerce, pottery markets, ancient trade
While often used in combination with other colors, some Ming Dynasty potters also explored the creation of pure yellow monochrome glazes, achieving a range of tones from pale lemon to deep golden yellow. The use of pure yellow in these pieces demonstrates another way that potters explored the possibilities of different types of colour.
Ming Dynasty monochrome glazes, including sacrificial red, celadon, yellow, and white, showcase the technical skill and aesthetic sensibility of potters through single-color applications, often used for ritual and imperial wares.
Early Ming blue and white porcelain (1368-1521) established the foundation for later ceramic innovation, showcasing refined cobalt underglaze techniques, bold designs, and diverse natural and symbolic motifs.
While underglaze blue was a core component of many Ming styles, some potters experimented with combining underglaze blue with sgraffito, a technique where designs are created by scratching through a layer of slip to reveal a contrasting colour beneath, and this combination of techniques adds both depth and visual complexity to the overall design scheme.
While we touched on Lapis, let’s examine how it impacted blue applications on Ming ceramics. The desire to emulate the rich blue of Lapis Lazuli prompted Ming potters to push the boundaries of cobalt underglaze techniques, and to explore new methods of applying their blue glazes to achieve a depth and visual power that was similar to the natural gem.