Potted and Painted: The Production and Technical Development of Underglaze Blue Porcelain in China

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The University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong is honoured to present Potted and Painted: The Production and Technical Development of Underglaze Blue Porcelain in China. For over a millennium, Chinese potters have produced highly sought-after objects decorated in blue and white. The blue pigment was historically produced from cobalt that was painted over an off-white-coloured ceramic clay. As technology has improved over time, ceramic materials have become progressively more refined and whiter in appearance.

As the production of ceramics grew in scale, the kiln size increased and potters began to make larger objects that were significant both for their size and inherent value as part of the Yuan dynasty tradition of decorating in this particular—now world-famous—colour scheme. Steeped in tradition, the technique continued to develop and modernise as the colours became clearer and the lines better defined.