Cao Zhen

    caozhen0806@126.com

    DOUCAI porcelains, a rare type of extravagant porcelains with exquisite coloring originating from the 15th century in China, are on display at Shenzhen Museum on Tongxin Road.

    The exhibits were unearthed from imperial kilns in the past three decades by Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province. The exhibits were appraised to be made during the reign of Ming Dynasty’s Chenghua Emperor (1447-1487), renowned for supporting porcelain development. Some blue and white porcelains and color-glazed wares are also exhibited along with the doucai items.

    Doucai (斗彩), literally meaning color competition, is a combination of underglaze and overglaze coloring crafts. The production of doucai wares is complex, requiring two firings. Craftsmen would first draw the white surface with cobalt pigment and create the composition in blue and white, then, after covering with a transparent glaze and firing the piece at a high temperature, they would apply colored paint above the transparent glaze before firing the piece again at a low temperature. The overglaze colors of red, yellow or green then contrast nicely with the underglaze blue color.

    Cobalt pigment must be used underglaze because it turns black when firing at high temperatures. Since there was no satisfactory overglaze blue enamel until the 17th century, blue elements of the design were painted under the glaze.

    “Doucai craft was initiated during the reign of Emperor Xuande (1398-1435) but reached its peak during Chenghua’s reign,” said Liu Xinyuan, director of Jingdezhen Ceramics Archaeology Research Institute.

    According to Liu, Emperor Chenghua Zhu Jianshen didn’t make outstanding achievements in managing the country but his reign oversaw flourishing porcelain development. “The imperial court of Chenghua spent a lot of money building kilns in Jingdezhen. In the early years of Chenghua’s reign, porcelains were mostly imitations of blue-and-white wares of the Xuande period, while in later years, doucai began dominating the production. Chenghua porcelains were very elegant and highly valued by later collectors for their smooth tactility and subtle charm,” said Liu.

    Liu said the emperor loved small, perfectly formed porcelains that he could hold in his hand. During his reign, many such pieces were produced for the imperial palace, particularly cups, small dishes and jars. Since he was an accomplished painter, designs on the porcelains were normally birds, flowers, fruits and children.

    Among the Chenghua wares, doucai chicken cups are the most valuable and considered some of the most desired of all imperial porcelains. “Chicken” patterns symbolized blessing in traditional Chinese culture, but was rarely engraved on massive ceramics with the only exception being the wares of Chenghua. Chicken cups are renowned for the delightful design, with groups of roosters, hens and chicks surrounded by flowers in polychrome.

    In 1999, a Chenghua doucai chicken cup fetched a record HK$29 million (US$3.74 million) at a Sotheby’s auction. At the Shenzhen exhibition, visitors can see a chicken cup, but unfortunately it is an unfinished item. Only the underglaze blue-and-white design can be seen.

    Designs featuring children at play in Chenghua wares is also very prominent, as legends say the emperor didn’t have children for quite a long time. According to historical records, Wan Zhen’er, a court maid 19 years Chenghua’s senior, had been a mother figure to him since Chenghua was 2 years old. After he ascended the throne at the age of 16, Wan quickly became Chenghua’s favorite consort and gave birth to a child. However, the child soon died and Wan prevented the young emperor from bearing any offspring by secretly inducing abortion in other consorts or poisoning babies. It was not until 1475 that Chenghua discovered that he had a son (the later Hongzhi Emperor) who survived and was raised in secrecy.

    The production of imperial porcelains declined drastically after Emperor Chenghua died. The doucai technique was favored by late emperors in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and revived during the reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors in the 17th-18th centuries. This period’s doucai porcelains were much bigger than those made in Chenghua’s reign, with complicated designs and of high artistic value.

Dates: Until May 25

Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Closed Mondays

Venue: Shenzhen Museum, 6 Tongxin Road, Futian District (福田区同心路6号深圳博物馆老馆)

Metro: Luobao or Shekou Line, Grand Theater Station (大剧院站), Exit B