Traditional Chinese Ceramic Craftsmanship----Linglong Porcelain
The history of Chinese ceramics can be traced back to the Neolithic era. Through thousands of years of technological innovation, it has developed a rich variety of ceramic crafts, including Tang tri-colour ware, white porcelain, celadon, blue-and-white porcelain, and polychrome porcelain. The English word “China” not only refers to the country but also means “ceramics,” highlighting the close relationship between China and ceramics. Chinese porcelain was not only extensively used in ancient imperial courts but also served as a primary trade commodity, as evidenced by the discovery of Southern Song Dynasty shipwrecks off the southeast coast. These artefacts reveal that ceramics were exported to Asia, Islamic cultures, and European nations, holding symbolic significance for China comparable to that of silk. Through centuries of international trade, Chinese ceramic techniques gradually spread across the globe, profoundly influencing the development of ceramic production technologies worldwide.
Linglong porcelain is a type of openwork glazed ceramic. Holes are first carved into the raw clay body, then filled with specially formulated glaze. After firing, translucent, glass-like patterns emerge from the perforated cavities. Linglong porcelain is often complemented with blue-and-white decoration, termed “blue-and-white linglong.” This technique appeared in the Hongzhou Kiln during the Sui and Tang dynasties and in 12th-century Persian pottery. It reached maturity at the Jingdezhen Kiln during the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty and became commonplace in everyday tableware after the 1960s. Influenced by Chinese Linglong porcelain, countries like Finland and Japan also began producing this type of ceramic ware.
The carving of Linglong porcelain is typically performed on dry bodies rather than wet ones. The most traditional method of creating openwork is hand carving. Starting in the 1960s, Jingdezhen introduced perforating machines for creating uniform, consistent holes. In the 1980s, Japan developed a high-pressure sandblasting technique for ceramic carving, which was adapted for Linglong porcelain, further reducing costs and technical demands.
After piercing, specially formulated Linglong glaze must be filled into the holes. Since the dry body absorbs water, the glaze creates surface depressions upon filling, necessitating repeated glazing to achieve a full, even surface. After filling, the piece undergoes a low-temperature bisque firing at 500–700°C, followed by the application of a transparent glaze on the surface and a high-temperature firing at 1300°C. Traditionally, Jingdezhen's translucent glaze yields a pale, semi-transparent finish with an elegant, delicate appearance. Since the 1980s, colored translucent glazes have also been developed. In contrast, Dehua, Fujian, employs ultra-high-transparency translucent glazes that resemble glass after firing, termed “crystal-like translucent.”
Linglong porcelain is often complemented by other decorative techniques, most notably blue-and-white decoration, termed “blue-and-white linglong.” Linglong eyes are typically absent from the rim and foot rim of vessels. These areas are instead decorated with blue-and-white, frequently featuring continuous geometric patterns. Beyond blue-and-white, another common complementary technique is full-ground enamel decoration. Some lace porcelain pieces feature no additional techniques and are called “plain lace.”
We choose both " blue-and-white linglong" and " plain lace" products for you. Above introduction comes from Wikipedia.