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"Swatow" ware, a term referring to a type of late Ming ceramic produced for export, particularly to Southeast Asia, is characterized by its bold, often roughly painted designs, its thick glazes, and its robust forms, and these pieces often have a more rustic appearance than some of the more delicate and refined pieces that were made during this era. Swatow wares were often decorated with a limited palette of colors, including blue, green, brown, and red, applied in a freehand style. These pieces, while often more simply decorated, were nonetheless still made with skill and expertise. These pieces were designed to meet the demands of overseas markets, often in large quantities and at a lower price point than court ceramics, making them widely available and influential on pottery styles throughout Southeast Asia. The study of Swatow wares provides valuable insights into the economic and cultural exchanges that occurred during the late Ming Dynasty and also shows the different types of pottery that were used for domestic consumption versus export. The global distribution of Swatow wares demonstrates the far-reaching impact of Ming Dynasty ceramics on the world stage. |
Tag : Ming Swatow ware, Chinese export pottery, Southeast Asia trade, bold ceramics, regional styles
While blue and white dominated, the Ming Dynasty also saw the development and refinement of "five-color" wares (wucai), which employed a range of vibrant overglaze enamels, including red, green, yellow, and aubergine, often used in combination with underglaze blue. These pieces demonstrate a more colourful and decorative style of pottery production that became increasingly popular during this period.
While we’ve addressed Jingdezhen before, it is useful to revisit its significance as a global center during the Ming Dynasty. The kilns of Jingdezhen, as the most important site for ceramic production at this time, not only supplied pottery for domestic markets, but also for international trade as well, and its influence was felt throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and it remains the heart of Chinese pottery production even today.
Ming Dynasty ceramics are highly valued by collectors and museums for their historical significance, artistic beauty, and technical mastery, requiring detailed knowledge for informed collecting and continued appreciation in the modern world.
While we’ve discussed it before, it is worth revisiting Jingdezhen’s ongoing significance during the Ming Dynasty. The city of Jingdezhen remained the undisputed center of porcelain production during the Ming period, playing a vital role in the development of new techniques and styles and the mass production of porcelain for domestic and international markets. The consistent output of high quality pottery from Jingdezhen made it the central element of ceramic production in China for centuries.
We've touched on coral red, but it's worthwhile to delve into the specific technical details of how Ming potters achieved this particular hue. The creation of a rich, vibrant coral red glaze required very precise and complex control of firing conditions, pigment composition and the application of glazes.