Celadon Porcelains Unearthed In Jiangxi (China)

China.org.cn ^ | Chen Lin

[blam]

Celadon porcelains unearthed in Jiangxi

A group of ancient tombs was discovered in Shangzhuang County of Fengcheng City in Jiangxi Province, exciting archaeologists. Unfortunately they only found two broken pieces of porcelain after thoroughly searching the tombs because almost all of the sites had been robbed.

Just as they were thinking about giving up the search, having discovered that the last tomb they checked was empty of relics, the scientists located a new, hidden tomb linked to the empty one via a side grave room. At first when they perceived the big hole, they thought that it was a tunnel dug by tomb robbers.

But when they explored through the tunnel, they found a well-protected tomb with more than a dozen exquisite celadon pieces of porcelain laid inside a coffin. Actually it is quite rare to find these kinds of connected twin tombs. Experts have guessed that they were a set built specifically for a husband and wife.

The archaeologists explained that ancient people spent a great amount of time building their tombs while alive. Construction could last from several months to dozens of years. These two tombs were apparently built together; coffins were placed inside after the owners died.

Shivered stones surrounded the newly discovered coffin. Over time these stones formed a protective layer for the coffin.

Archaeologists said that the empty tomb linked to this one was not definitely robbed. Since shivered stones protected the inner tomb and the outer tomb did not have that kind of shield, and because they couldn't find the tunnel dug by robbers, archaeologists now surmise that the host of the tomb may have died in a place far away from his hometown after the tomb was finished.

There are many pieces of celadon porcelain in the well-protected, inner tomb, including an ink stone, calyx, plate, spittoon, fruit plate, pot, bowl, cup and counterweight. This ceramic ware, although some is broken, displays a glaze technique of a high level so it's quite valuable.

A porcelain pot, with two circle veins on its neck and a concave vein on the bottom, was found in the tomb. This is the first time a pot of this shape has been found.

A porcelain counterweight was also discovered in the tomb. Counterweights are not rare in China, but a celadon one is really a new find in China's archaeology history.

Now that the excavation work has finished, archaeologists are starting to study and repair these celadon pieces. The site is under government protection. It's the first time such a large scale group of tombs around Fengcheng City has been found.

This porcelain counterweight, the first of its kind in Jiangxi, was found in the tomb.

A porcelain vessel, with two circle veins on its neck, was discovered in the tomb. This is the first time a pot of this shape has been found in the province.

[blam]

GGG Ping.

[PGalt]

Fascinating. Thanks for posting.

[sinanju]

“As the wares of celadon porcelain were produced in the Longquan County, in the Zhejiang Province, it became the most valued, and became more generally known as longquan qingci. This is its Chinese name, and it means “greenish porcelain.” However, you might wonder why then, it is known as celadon porcelain in the West. Celadon, the person carrying the name, was the hero of a revered French writer Honore d”Urfe, in his romance L’Astrée, of 1610; Celadon was the lover of the heroine Astrée. Celadon was depicted as a young man who dresses all in green, and this fashion became the rage in most of Europe. It was just about this time that the Chinese porcelain qingci made its way into Paris, and won its first acclaims. Therefore, people began to compare the color of the qingci with the color of Celadon’s suit, and began calling the porcelain “celadon,” which spread to other countries.”
_____________________________________________________________

Now, at last, I know...

European “chinoiserie” afficionados called it that. In this case I’ll give it to the western barbarians for being more grandiloquent in their dubbing.

[blam]

Chinese Qingci Green

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Asia Pinglist

Korea is famous for its celadon porcelain.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Take two.

[wizr]

Thanks for the post. Too bad everything is rated by its value and not its beauty. ‘Tis a truly beautiful color and exquisite workmanship.

[redhead]

"Korea is famous for its celadon porcelain."

My son sent me a tall celadon crane bottle from Korea when he was there with the Army. One of my most prized possessions.

[redhead]

"...a tall celadon crane bottle from Korea"

Like the example on the far right.

[blam]

[nw_arizona_granny]

Blam the vases are beautiful.

Ping.

[SunkenCiv]

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[Monkey Face]

Hey!

Fancy meeting you here!

*HUG*

[Quix]

Thanks and for the link below.

[Quix]

Thanks.

Indeed. Beautiful.

[Velveeta]

Thanks, Granny - they are beautiful.
Actually, my dishes are a similar color. :-)

[Cincinna]

Thanks for the PING.

Fascinating discovery. I am a great lover of Chinese porcelain. The origin of the term “celadon” is fascinating, something I never knew before.

[atwood]

wizr,i agree with you.

[atwood]

i am a lover of chinese porcelain to.i have got many.anyone can tell me how to post the photo on?i want to share my lovely porcelains.