The earliest high-fired glazed ceramics in China : scientific studies of the proto-porcelain from Zhejiang during the Shang and Zhou periods (c.1700-221 BC)
Proto-porcelain, a kind of high-fired lime-rich glazed ceramic, with maturing temperatures in excess of 1200 Â°C, began to appear in China during the Shang dynasty (c. 1700 to 1027 BC) and became more widespread during the subsequent Zhou dynasty (1027 to 221 BC). Since the 1950s, proto-porcelain has been unearthed from various tombs and sites across the country; most of them in mound tombs and kiln sites in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Bodies and glazes of 61 proto-porcelain sherds and 19 non proto-porcelain samples from Shang and Zhou periods production sites in Deqing, Zhejiang province were collected and later analysed by EPMA-WDS to understand the raw materials and to explore the mechanisms behind the formation of these glazes. The results indicate that the bodies of all samples were made from local raw material â porcelain stone. Wood ashes, high in lime and low in potash, were intentionally applied to the proto-porcelain samples, resulting in the formation of lime-rich glazes whose composition were determined by a temperature-controlled mechanism. In contrast, kiln fragments and furniture show a potash-rich fuel vapour glaze, which formed unintentionally during use of the kiln. The firing
Yin, M.
The earliest high-fired glazed ceramics in China : scientific studies of the proto-porcelain from Zhejiang during the Shang and Zhou periods (c.1700-221 BC). Proto-porcelain, a kind of high-fired lime-rich glazed ceramic, with maturing temperatures in excess of 1200 Â°C, began to appear in China during the Shang dynasty (c. 1700 to 1027 BC) and became more widespread during the subsequent Zhou dynasty (1027 to 221 BC). Since the 1950s, proto-porcelain has been unearthed from various tombs and sites across the country; most of them in mound tombs and kiln sites in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Bodies and glazes of 61 proto-porcelain sherds and 19 non proto-porcelain samples from Shang and Zhou periods production sites in Deqing, Zhejiang province were collected and later analysed by EPMA-WDS to understand the raw materials and to explore the mechanisms behind the formation of these glazes. The results indicate that the bodies of all samples were made from local raw material â porcelain stone. Wood ashes, high in lime and low in potash, were intentionally applied to the proto-porcelain samples, resulting in the formation of lime-rich glazes whose composition were determined by a temperature-controlled mechanism. In contrast, kiln fragments and furniture show a potash-rich fuel vapour glaze, which formed unintentionally during use of the kiln. The firing
early high fired glazed ceramic china scientific study proto porcelain period proto porcelain kind high fired lime rich glazed ceramic mature temperature excess adegc begin appear china dynasty become widespread subsequent dynasty since proto porcelain various tomb site_across country mound tombs kiln site low reach river glaze proto porcelain sherd non proto porcelain sample period production sit province collect later analyse epma raw_material explore mechanism behind formation glaze indicate body sample make local raw_material porcelain stone wood ash high lime low intentionally apply proto porcelain sample result formation lime rich glaze whose composition determine temperature controlled mechanism contrast kiln fragment furniture show rich fuel glaze form use kiln fire