Antique Northeast Asian porcelain
Porcelain refers to any ceramic item that is both white and translucent. Chinese ceramics were introduced around 1600 to 1050 B.C. The Chinese are exceptionally skilled in both the high-fired and low-fired methods of ceramic making with the high-fired pieces being of the most to-date. Early low-fired earthenware dates back to 5000 to 2500 B.C. with detailed distinctions existing between the Central and Western regions. The process of coiling red clay to form the stout, rounded look of the Yangshao Dynasty were decorated with detailed patterns or bold geometric shapes filled in with black, white or violet paint.
It was the finer made Yue pottery; however that gained recognition as being the foundation for eastern born porcelain. These wares were created in the Tang Period and were either glazed or left unglazed and generally portrayed very intricate designs or the figureheads of animals such as lions, bears, and frogs. Ru-ware is a product of Northern China and is still used by imperial residents. These pieces have a small amount of the mineral iron in the glaze that is used, which can turn the glaze to green hue over time. Then, lastly Jun ware is very similar to Ru ware in the sense that it has the same firing statures. Unlike the Ru, however, Jun ware is more thickly made and can be found with purple or greenish-blue glazes.
Lastly, the more common blue and white wares were founded in the early 14th century. The glazes of these wares are completely transparent and added after the designs are filled in with blue paint or ink. In 1975 an excavation led to the discovery of an old burial urn dating back to 1319 after several blue shards had been dug up in the Jiangxi kiln site.
