Chinese Porcelain Jars

Written 10 May , 2010

China has a long and rich history of porcelain jars. As the cradle of porcelain making technology, China probably has the most numerous collection of jars in all shapes and for different functions. From the crude burial jars in the ancient times to the magnificent extra large decorative pieces of Imperial China, Chinese porcelain jars are sought after collection pieces of antique and art enthusiasts worldwide.

And Chinese jars are not just famous antiquated pieces. Even those that are produced to date are prized for their being truly made in the homeland of porcelain. In fact china has become synonymous with porcelain. Do you know that porcelain from Japan is known as Nippon china, and those that are from Germany are called Bavarian china? Germany has the distinction of being the first European country to produce porcelain and Japan has the biggest porcelain export to date.

Among the popular Chinese jars, the blue and white porcelain jars are the most coveted. In Chinese, they are called Qinghua to mean blue green decoration. These pieces are pure white porcelain decorated with cobalt (which produces the blue color on the glaze) and then covered with a clear colorless glaze afterwards.

The Chinese technique in using cobalt to produce the blue and white porcelain jars is distinct from those that are used in other country. In China, the decoration is applied directly on the unfired clay body of the pieces and then fired in the kiln. In other countries, the pieces are fist hardened in a kiln and then applied with decoration. The Chinese technique is said to be superior compared to those used in other countries.

The blue and white porcelain jars first became famous during the Mongolian Yuan dynasty (1279 – 1368). The technique is made perfect in the ensuing dynasties with the work during the Qing Dynasty (1662-1722) as the ones of the finest technical workmanship.

By then, china had been importing materials to produce what is known as Mohameddan blue, a deep hue that shines in contrast to the white porcelain canvass. While porcelain pieces are still produced using other techniques and colors, the blue and white pieces easily became the most popular. By the 17th century, Chinese blue and white porcelain jars were already exported to Europe.

Today blue and white porcelain jars, plates and other wares are famous china pieces. They are seen in every porcelain collection and are usually the centerpiece.