Cabinet L: Shelf 2
Blue-and-White Porcelain and Stoneware
Blue-and-white ware is named for a cobalt blue pigment used in its decoration. The pure white body provided by porcelain serves as a brilliant contrast for varying shades of striking cobalt blue paint, which is applied directly on the body; when fired, the vitrified surface looks as if it has been coated with a clear glaze. This technique was first developed at the Jingdezhen kilns in southeast China in the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368), when trade routes with western Asia were active and cobalt could be imported from Persia, although indigenous sources were later discovered. Jingdezhen has continued to dominate the production of Chinese blue-and-white ware down to modern times. These beautiful wares were later replicated in other Asian and European ceramics.
Much of the earliest Chinese blue-and-white pottery has been found outside the country with decoration that suggests it catered to foreign rather than domestic tastes, supporting the theory that it was at first created primarily for export. Making its way to Southeast Asia in the fourteenth century, blue-and-white ware informed Vietnamese pottery traditions. It became popular in Japan during the seventeenth century, when Arita porcelain factories located on the Southern island of Kyûshû produced much of these wares. Like in China, many Japanese porcelains were made for export to Western markets through the Dutch East India Company. Later, as domestic demand increased, designs drew more heavily on Japanese themes and tradition. Chinese blue-and-white ware has also informed Thai (Sawankhalok) and Dutch Delft ceramic traditions.
Korean
Blue-and-white vase with large floral designs
porcelain with blue underglaze painting
10 1/4 x 6 15/16 x 6 15/16 in. (26 x 17.5 x 17.5 cm)
Gift of the Reverend and Mrs. Philip L. Schenk for the James Marshall Plumer Memorial Collection
Japanese
Blue-and-white "Willow ware" plate with landscape design
porcelain with blue underglaze painting and overglaze gold
1 1/2 in. x 7 5/8 in. x 7 5/8 in. ( 3.81 cm x 19.37 cm x 19.37 cm )
Gift of Ellen and Richard Laing
Kiln Unknown, Vietnam
Blue-and-white covered box with landscape scene on lid
stoneware with blue underglaze painting
1 13/16 in. x 2 7/16 in. x 2 7/16 in. ( 4.6 cm x 6.2 cm x 6.2 cm )
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
Chinese
Saucer
porcelain with glaze, and underglaze
1 5/16 in x 5 3/4 in x 5 3/4 in (3.4 cm x 14.6 cm x 14.6 cm)
Gift of Mr. John Lee Newton
Korean
Blue-and-white tilted jar with peony and 'cloud collar' designs
porcelain with blue underglaze painting
9 5/16 x 10 7/8 x 10 7/8 in. (23.5 x 27.5 x 27.5 cm)
Gift of Bruce and Inta Hasenkamp and Museum purchase made possible by Elder and Mrs. Sang-Yong Nam
Chinese
Miniature jar with cover, decorated with figures of boy acrobats
porcelain with blue underglaze painting
3 1/8 in. x 2 3/16 in. x 2 3/16 in. ( 8 cm x 5.5 cm x 5.5 cm )
Gift of Mr. Robert W. Coggan
Chinese
Small Jar
porcelain with underglaze, and glaze
3 1/8 in x 2 13/16 in x 2 13/16 in (8 cm x 7.1 cm x 7.1 cm)
Gift of Marvin Eisenberg in memory of Gerald Gibson
Kiln Unknown, Vietnam
Blue-and-white miniature covered box with floral medallion on lid
stoneware with blue underglaze painting
1 9/16 in. x 2 1/4 in. x 2 1/4 in. ( 3.9 cm x 5.7 cm x 5.7 cm )
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
Chinese
Box
porcelain with underglaze and glaze
1 9/16 in x 2 3/8 in x 2 3/8 in (3.9 cm x 6 cm x 6 cm)
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
Chinese
Blue-and-White Covered Jar with floral scroll design
porcelain with blue underglaze painting
6 13/16 in. x 5 11/16 in. x 5 11/16 in. ( 17.3 cm x 14.4 cm x 14.4 cm )
Gift of Ping and Zenobia Lee
Seifū Yohei III
Miniature Vase with Rabbit Design (1 of 2)
porcelain with blue underglaze painting
1 5/8 in. x 1 3/16 in. x 9/16 in. ( 4.2 cm x 3 cm x 1.4 cm )
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker
Seifū Yohei III
Miniature Vase with Rabbit Design (1 of 2)
porcelain with blue underglaze painting
1 5/8 in. x 1 3/16 in. x 9/16 in. ( 4.2 cm x 3 cm x 1.4 cm )
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker