There's a certain porcelain secret hidden in China, it's a method of making porcelain products whereby there are no images painted on the surface. Rather, beautiful colors and images come out of the glaze itself as it's fired.
How can such beautiful images be created?
To make transmutation porcelain, potters simply apply a layer or multiple layers of glaze that was unevenly mixed with copper, cobalt, titanium, manganese, or other metals. These metallic elements will turn into different colors during firing, and altogether they form a pattern that could be a fascinating work of art or a complete flop.
In ancient China, some potters even achieved patterns that looked like the faces of their emperors!
Many factors contribute to the final result: the temperature, the amount of each metallic element in the glaze, and the direction you brush glaze on. So each pattern cannot be duplicated, and one that represents real-life images is almost complete luck.
As a matter of fact, this is exactly why people worldwide love this type of porcelain. After all, when luck herself gives you a piece of art, its best to grab it.
Transmutation porcelain is believed to have originated over a thousand years ago. Is is said that the artisan who first made a transmutation porcelain piece was terrified because he thought there was an evil spirit in his kiln!
Nowadays, collectors around the world love this kind of porcelain, and some people pay extreme prices for just one work by a respected potter.
How can such beautiful images be created?
To make transmutation porcelain, potters simply apply a layer or multiple layers of glaze that was unevenly mixed with copper, cobalt, titanium, manganese, or other metals. These metallic elements will turn into different colors during firing, and altogether they form a pattern that could be a fascinating work of art or a complete flop.
In ancient China, some potters even achieved patterns that looked like the faces of their emperors!
Many factors contribute to the final result: the temperature, the amount of each metallic element in the glaze, and the direction you brush glaze on. So each pattern cannot be duplicated, and one that represents real-life images is almost complete luck.
As a matter of fact, this is exactly why people worldwide love this type of porcelain. After all, when luck herself gives you a piece of art, its best to grab it.
Transmutation porcelain is believed to have originated over a thousand years ago. Is is said that the artisan who first made a transmutation porcelain piece was terrified because he thought there was an evil spirit in his kiln!
Nowadays, collectors around the world love this kind of porcelain, and some people pay extreme prices for just one work by a respected potter.
About the Author:
Author D. Cheng has written about Chinese culture, calligraphy, and arts & crafts such as Porcelain tea set for ages. Occasionally, he endorses skilled Chinese craftsmen. Look at some beautiful Chinese tea sets.
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