Sancai ceramics, a type of colored porcelain from the Ming and Qing dynasties, have their origins in the Tang dynasty’s tri-colored glazed pottery. Sancai production continued through the Song, Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties. The exact time when Jingdezhen kilns started producing Sancai porcelain is not documented, but it involves applying colored glazes such as yellow, green, purple, black, and white to a high-temperature fired plain porcelain body with pre-carved patterns and then firing it once at low temperatures. By the Zhengde period of the Ming dynasty, the production was highly refined, and new innovations during the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty brought the technique to its peak.
Characteristics of Sancai Ceramics from the Ming Dynasty:
- Chenghua Period: Rare, with primary colors being yellow, green, purple, and brown. Shapes include mandarin duck pillows and duck-shaped incense burners, with some Buddhist statues seen in civilian kilns.
- Hongzhi Period: Features colors like yellow, green, and purple. Common shapes include stem cups, plates, and Buddha statue bases, characterized by soft lines in their design.
- Zhengde Period: Although limited in quantity, it showcased refined craftsmanship with two types: less glossy and more glossy finishes, primarily using yellow, green, and purple colors. Common shapes included double-ear vases, stem cups, washers, and narcissus basins, with decorations like entwined lotus and sea creatures.
- Jiajing Period: Colors include red, green, and purple on colored backgrounds, with dull and uneven tones compared to previous periods. Decorations often featured rough, incised floral patterns. Common shapes included plum vases, large jars, and sphere-shaped objects.
- Wanli Period: Various colored backgrounds with glazes directly applied to the body. Common colors include yellow, green, and purple. Yellow glaze was heavy, showing small red spots or streaks through it, while green glaze was light and bright. Common shapes included plates, bowls, and censers, often decorated with dragon patterns. Notable was the use of a special eggplant purple glaze combined with white, green, and yellow glazes to create designs like dragons and flowers.
Characteristics of Sancai Ceramics from the Qing Dynasty:
- Kangxi Period: This era saw the continuation and enhancement of Ming Sancai traditions. The process involved carving design outlines on the plain body and applying colored glazes. Common colors included yellow, green, and purple, sometimes accented with blue or white, but rarely red, earning it the name “plain Sancai.” Various types included yellow-ground, white-ground, black-ground, tiger-skin, and Sancai porcelain sculptures. The craftsmanship was meticulous, with a fine, hard body. Official kilns marked their pieces with imperial seals, while civilian kilns varied in quality and often omitted marks or used imitation marks.
- Yongzheng Period: Produced fewer Sancai pieces, including underglaze Sancai techniques.
- Qianlong and Jiaqing Periods: Even fewer pieces were produced, with no significant new varieties, maintaining continuity with previous styles.
- Daoguang Period: Declined in quality, with less dense and uneven body walls, yet introduced new varieties with snow blue or lapis blue glazes.
- Xianfeng, Tongzhi, and Guangxu Periods: Continued traditional techniques with little change, but Guangxu saw increased imitation of earlier styles.
Comparative Analysis of Ming and Qing Sancai Ceramics:
- Ming Sancai: Typically had bulkier bodies and uneven glazes, with a rougher finish, emphasizing an ancient and deep aesthetic.
- Qing Sancai: Featured clearer, purer glazes and elegant, soft shapes, with refined craftsmanship, presenting a more delicate and bright appearance.
Overall, while Ming Sancai aimed for an ancient, robust feel, Qing Sancai showcased a more refined, elegant, and vibrant quality.
