Chinese Han Dynasty Ceramics

- The Han dynasty is notable for its concentration on

-

organized ceramic production.

Mass-produced functional vessels, ceramics became
nationwide industry
Molds aided tremendously in the manufacture of identical
vessels
The most important technical innovation was the
development of lead glazing.
First true porcelain was made in the Zhejiang province during the Han dynasty
- Eastern han kiln sites estimated firing temperature ranged from 1260
to 1300C
Known for its light but strong ceramic preferable for artistic and
decorative purposes

Types of Ceramics:
- hu (): the commonest form, a baluster-shaped vase
copied from a bronze original (top left)

- Hill jar (): common funerary pots used for storing

ashes, name comes from the hills on the lid of the jar (top
right)

- Models of servants, domestic animals, buildings, wellheads,

dovecotes (bottom right)

- Hun ping (soul jar): funerary jar whose top was decorated by
sculptural composition (bottom left)
Two types of glazed wares:
- Low-fired lead glaze (lead glazing): colored with copper to produce tinted bottlegreen, founded presumably for funerary purposes only, degenerates through
burial to a silver iridescences
- Mainly used for only mortuary potter rather than daily use (because lead was
poisonous)
- Manufactured largely in central china
- High-fired stoneware: brownish to olive glaze, achieved in Yue ware kilns ( )
- Incorporated wood or ash glaze with yellow-green color range (considered early
form of celadon)
- Painted grey ware: often imitated lacquer ware, burnished black ware, and
stamped and incised decoration both glazed and unglazed

Works Cited
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"Chinese Han Dynasty Ceramics." Cultural China. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Chinese Porcelain History." ChinaHighlights. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.
"Han Dynasty Art." Han Dynasty Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.
"Han Dynasty Ceramics." , Pottery, Porcelain. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.
"Han Dynasty Ceramics - The Art of Asia - Guide to Chinese Ceramics." Han Dynasty
Ceramics - The Art of
Asia - Guide to Chinese Ceramics. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec.
2015.