Pigment Study of antiqued underglaze-blue porcelain in Qing dynasty

I. Introduction

Modeling after an antique prevailed in Qing dynasty (1644-1911), particularly in the reign of Yongzheng (1723-1735) and Qianlong (1736-1795). Those antiqued porcelains have been auctioned in high price on auction market. Nevertheless, there was a misconception about pigment of underglaze-blue porcelain in Qing dynasty. Thus, relevant information was collected to clear up the misconception.

II. Doubt about pigment of underglaze-blue porcelain in Qing dynasty

Antiqued underglaze-blue porcelain in Qing dynasty modeled after underglaze-blue porcelains in Yuan and Ming dynasties that were characteristic of iron rust spots by imported pigment. The unique and imported pigment performed underglaze-blue pattern with sunken pigment and silver reflection of iron rust spots. Why did antiqued underglaze-blue porcelain in Qing dynasty have similar effect as iron rust spots? Was pigment with high concentration of iron applied to antiqued porcelains in Qing dynasty?

III. Illustration of pigment of underglaze-blue porcelain in Qing dynasty by reference

A. In the Kangxi period of Qing dynasty (1736-1795), local pigment applied to underglaze-blue porcelain presented bright blue. Antiqued porcelains in the style of Yongle (1403-1424) and Xuande (1426-1435) period presented black spots owing to accumulation of local pigment by repeatedly painting. Hence, black spots didn’t naturally cause by pigment with high amount of iron and differed from silver reflection by iron rust spots in Yongle and Xuande period.

(Reference: Li, Hui-bing. Appraisement Foundations of Chinese Porcelain, Beijing: Forbidden City, 2001, p.230.)

B. In the Yongzheng period (1723-1735), local pigment was continually applied to antiqued underglaze-blue porcelains. The antiqued porcelain in the style of Yongle and Xuande period performed imported pigment Su-ma-li blue by piling up dark paint in order to display black spots and diffusion of pigment, yet lacked for natural and sunken effect.

(Reference: Zhang, Hong-wei. Ancient Chinese Ceramics Research, Vol. 10, Beijing: Forbidden City, 2004, 164-165)

C. During Yongzheng (1723-1735) and Qianlong (1736-1795) period, underglaze-blue porcelains was fired in the style of Yongle and Xuande period. Artificial black spots were caused by adding paint. The black spots were different from natural black iron rust spots that were embedded into clay and caused by pigment with high amount of iron in Yongle and Xuande period.

(Reference: Yan, Dong-mei. Introduction of Chinese Porcelain -Chinese Porcelain from Ming and Qing Dynasties, Taipei: Art Book, Sep. 2000, 54-55)

D. Underglaze-blue porcelain in Qianlong period also used local pigment as same as previous period, Yongzheng period. The skill of using local pigment advanced. Antiqued underglaze-blue porcelains in the style of Yongle and Xuande period performed blue pattern with large amount of black spots. However, the black spots differed from natural spots by imported Su-ma-li blue. The antiqued pattern was artificially done by dotting dark paint, so black spots lacked of sunken and uneven effect.

(Reference: Ma, Xi-gui. Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, Shanghai: Shanghai Gu Ji, 1999, 250-251)

IV. Conclusion

A. There was no reference stated that iron was added to pigment of antiqued underglaze-blue porcelain in Qing dynasty. The antiqued porcelains usually used local pigment with high concentration of Manganese and low concentration of iron. The pigment was from Zhejiang province in China and was the main pigment for underglaze-blue porcelains in imperial kiln of Jingdezhen from middle period of Wangli reign (1573-1620) in Ming dynasty to Qing dynasty(1644-1911). Pigment effect like black spots and diffusion was accumulated by dotting dark paint artificially.

B. Sunken pigment and silver reflection of iron rust spots were not supposed to happen on underglaze-blue porcelains in Qing dynasty.