The firing of Shiwan pottery was
early exposed from the Beiqiu site of Late Neolithic. The latest time
of the large kiln in the history traced back to Tang dynasty. During the
course of 1950s to 1970s, Song and Tang kiln sites, which were almost
half pottery, were discovered at Foshan Shiwan and Nanhai Qishi one after
the other. The lower temperature, less higher rigidity, strong embryo
and flabby texture are all Tang typical characters of southern pottery.
Since Han dynasty, the coin was widely used and bronze was the main material
on it, with the development of business, pottery ware was the replacement
of bronze on most of the daily commodities. The flourish of the pottery
drove the development of pottery art, and formed an absolute field. It
began from Tang dynasty since pottery came into market.
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Han Dynasty: Mirrored dressing box in pottery |
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Shiwan
art pottery was developed from Tang dynasty and was popular in Ming and
Qing dynasties. However, it began from Late Neolithic.
The firing of shiwan kiln in Tang dynasty used the half-elliptical kiln,
which was on a plane. Green glaze is the more important, then brown glaze.
The technique was mixed with the way by machine and by hand. Most of them
were for daily-use, such as bowl, dish, pot and three-legged censer etc.
Before
Tang dynasty, people usually sat on the floor, putting the wares on, which
matched single or double ears for the easy passing of thread to carry.
After Tang, furniture appeared from the earliest bed to the table, which
can be used to put on the wares. The position was higher than before,
so people took the ware by hand directly instead of carrying the threads.
Meanwhile, a lot of bionic style ware came out. As we may know, simulating
animal was the habit of Chinese people, but since Tang it tended to plants,
such as the pumpkin copied as the body of bottle, the flower shape copied
as plate and bowl etc. Till Song the style of pottery became even more
beautiful and simple. It had a variety of samples, long body from the
face, and almost parallel among the body, handle and mouse of the pot.
Usually, the pot had the styles of plum bottle and porcelain pot. The
common shapes of the bowl were claw and sunflower, and the bamboo-hat
style was the most popular.
Tang Dynasty
Three-colored Long neck bottle |
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Qing Dynasty
Three-colored vase of Shiwan pottery |
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| During
the course of making in Shiwan Pottery,the good qualities of various
kilns are absorbed to perfect the works. For example, the
kiln-to-glaze of the long neck
bottle has been absorbed of
the three-colored
pottery vase. |
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