Ceramic and Porcelain Treasures

A time of turmoil followed the Han dynasty as three kingdoms and six dynasties tumbled over one another in the next two hundred years. I will hurry you past these and those that followed the Northern and Southern dynasties and the Sui to bring you to the T’ang dynasty, of the eleventh century. I anxious for you to see our T’ang horse. It is ceramic. When it was made it was surfaced with colors. Now only a hint of its brilliance remains in the red of its mane. The beauty of its form, the whole sense of artistic and physical balance overcomes the loss of color. The animal is poised with one hoof held high in a proud stance. It is a large piece: two and a half feet from hoof to mane, and a touch more than two feet from nose to tail.

Six dynasties occupied the next 218 years, but now, let me lead you past these to the magnificence of the Sung dynasty. Europe lay in the grasp of the Dark Ages when Sung artistry glowed serenely across four centuries of China’s culture. Literature, the arts, architecture and furniture reached a pinnacle of expression perhaps not matched since. I have much to show you of the versatility of the epoch. Now let me explain this period in terms of porcelain. Our Sung porcelain items are muted, monochromatic​—one color emphasizing the purity of the glazes used. I have a Western friend who often comes to visit me and who views my Ju ware (pronounced Roo) as my greatest treasure. You wonder why?

Let me tell you. First, that particular color cannot be had on demand. It was a gift of the Ju kiln, a transmutation, a color change taking place in the kiln. Secondly, in the Sung period the purpose of working in porcelain ware was to try to imitate the peculiar soft, translucent glow and color of jade, as well as its cool, smooth “feel.” The Chinese treasured jade in all its colors. But they wished to copy the white jade and that hue of the lighter off-green. In Ju ware it was achieved. If you could reach inside the case you would feel the third reason. Its “feel” is so smooth that it is the equal of jade. In all the world there are just some thirty known Ju-ware items, and twenty-three of them are here.

The Yüan dynasty gave way to the Ming dynasty, during which time Columbus sailed to the Americas. Let us enter the display area for Ming porcelains. Did I hear you gasp? It was a combination of surprise and pleasure, wasn’t it? The brilliant colors of the Ming wares are breathtaking! In this dynasty’s display you will notice a high-stemmed bowl. It has green dragons on a brilliant yellow base color. The technique was to engrave the design on the unglazed base, then later fill it with color. Ultimately Ming artisans learned to control color so it neither “bled” nor ran out of control in firing.