Hello! Today I will write about a Chinese city I would very much like to visit: Jingdezhen (景德镇), renowned for porcelain production. Known as the porcelain capital, it has a long history of ceramic manufacture. […]
Hello! You have probably seen Portuguese tiles with blue decoration on white faience, or Chinese vases with blue brushwork. That blue comes from a cobalt-based pigment. This article explores its history and its use in ceramics. […]
Hello! After a break from the blog, I am returning with this post about Arita porcelain. These wares are made around Arita in Nishimatsuura district, Saga prefecture, on the Japanese island of Kyūshū. […]
Hotaru-de, literally “firefly hand”, involves piercing a ceramic piece, covering it with glaze and firing it. The glaze closes the openings in the surface, producing the distinctive decorative effect discussed in this article. […]
Bernard Leach described the Song dynasty as one of ceramics’ noblest achievements. Other authors likewise call it a golden age. Studying the subject, I was struck by the extraordinary pieces, diverse techniques and range of production. […]