Ming Gap (mid-15th to the early 16th centuries) imperial embargo lead to sharp decline in ceramics exported to Southeast Asia. Sukhothai Kingdom’s ceramics exports flourished to fill the gap.
In the kiln, glazes and clay want to stick to whatever surface the piece was fired on. This was the top challenge for 1,000s of years. The bottom of a ceramic is very often the best way to gauge its age, based on how potters at the time kept pieces from sticking together or to the kiln floor.
Copper-based peach bloom glazes were notoriously finicky in the kiln. Small variations in oxygen levels and single-digit temperature differences created wildly varying results. Even pieces fired next to one another can come out with different colors and patterns.
The 13th of 16 Ming emperors, when Wanli ruled (1572 to 1620) it was the country that was unlucky. Wanli slacked off, the government weakened, trade suffered, they ran out of the nicer shade of blue, and Manchus came from the North by horse and started the Qing.
Maps of maritime trade routes for Chinese exports to SE and S Asia. Includes graph showing drop in production during Ming Gap.
Influenced by a variety of factors, including trade, diplomacy, and religious exchange. Also, pirates.
The pottery of the Majiayao phase is typically decorated with simple, geometric designs in black pigment. Common motifs include sweeping parallel lines, dots, and triangles.
The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) was a time of great change and upheaval in China. The Mongols, a nomadic people from Central Asia, had conquered China and established the Yuan Dynasty. The Mongol conquest led to a number of changes in China, including the opening up of new trade routes and the influx of new ideas and cultures.
Scholarly history of ritual and altar vessels, National Palace Museum, PDF
Porcelain and ceramics production in China reached its peak during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) when Chinese potters developed new techniques for making porcelain and ceramics that were more sophisticated and colorful than anything prior.
The yuhuchun vase 玉壺春瓶, also known as the pear-shaped vase, is a classic Chinese ceramic form that has been produced for centuries. It is characterized by its rounded body, long slender neck, and flared rim.
Sukhothai ceramics are a type of pottery that was produced during the Sukhothai Kingdom in north-central modern day Thailand (1238-1583 AD). The Sukhothai Kingdom was the first independent Thai kingdom, and it was a major center of trade and culture in Southeast Asia.
Flambé glazes are a type of ceramic glaze that is characterized by their unpredictable and often colorful effects. They are created by applying a mixture of minerals to the surface of a ceramic vessel and then firing it at a high temperature.
Chinese export ceramics, particularly during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is a flagship representation of Chinese artistic and cultural heritage that left a significant imprint in global ceramics trade.