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One Fabulous Color: Chinese Monochrome Ware

Photo: Joan B Mirviss Gallery, New York

China has a long tradition of monochrome ceramics whose appeal lies in the beauty of one color to draw the eyes” attention. While the art of making ceramic wares dates to the Han dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD), it was in the Tang dynasty– a period of economic and political stability coupled with high artistic and cultural achievements – that potters invented porcelain, perfected high-fired celadon and experimented with the luscious cobalt blue glazes obtained from the Silk Road.

The interest of Tang potters in single colour wares, especially white ware, brown ware, celadon, and cobalt blue laid the groundwork for ceramic design in subsequent dynasties, beginning with its successor, the Song (960-1279), and continuing with the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

Scroll below to see some of the best examples of Chinese monochrome ware in private hands, arranged chronologically. For reference, here are the periods of the dynasties covered by this post: Tang (618 – 960), Song (960 – 1279), Yuan (1271 – 1368), Ming (1368 – 1644), Qing (1644 – 1912).

TANG MONOCHROME WARE

Bottle vase, Tang dynasty (618-906), stoneware with cobalt blue glaze, Dia. 3-5/8 in.
A rare kendi vessel in monochrome blue glaze. Late Tang dynasty. Height: 18.8 cm.

SONG MONOCHROME WARE

Song dynasty ceramics are known for the simplicity of their form and design, created with the help of technical innovations that allowed for greater control of the kiln and the firing process. Among the most distinctive of these monochrome ceramics are the opalescent blue glazes of Jun wares, the inky dark glazes of Jian wares and the soft celadons from Longquan.

A persimmon-glazed ‘ding’ bowl, Northern Song dynasty (960 – 1127). This exquisite bowl has a gently rounded conic profile, resting on a short narrow foot that sweeps upwards to an elegant eve.
An extremely rare ‘oil spot’ (Tenmoku) tea bowl, Southern Song dynasty (1127 – 1279). Dia. 4 13/16 in. (12.2 cm.). Song Tenmoku ware greatly influenced the production of Japanese tea bowls from the 12th century.
A Longquan celadon ‘twin-phonenix’ mallet vase, Southern Song dynasty (1127 – 1279). 10 ¾ in. (27.3 cm.) high. This vase with a mallet-shaped body features a tall neck flanked by a pair of phoenix handles below the widely flared mouth with upturned rim. The vase is covered with an even glaze of soft sea-green tone.
An Ru ‘sky-blue’ tea bowl, Northern Song, late 11th – early 12th century. Dia. 4 in. (10.2 cm).

This rare and exquisitely potted tea bowl is covered with a subtly crackled unctuous glaze of soft, greyish-blue tone, thinning at the rims to reveal the ashen body underneath. Of all the ceramics made during China’s long cultural history, these wares have had the greatest allure for both imperial and literati connoisseurs alike.

A superb ‘kinuta’ longquan celadon washer, Southern Song dynasty (1127 – 1279). Dia. 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm). This washer is finely potted with an angular profile rising from the short foot to a slightly everted rim, and is covered overall with an unctuous glaze of even bluish-green tone.

MONOCHROME WARE OF THE YUAN AND MING DYNASTIES

The Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368) was China’s first foreign-led dynasty, and spanned the periods between the Song and Ming dynasties. It was established by Kublai Khan, leader of the vast Mongol Empire.

A rare Jun Jardiniere (ornamental pot), Yuan-Ming dynasty, 14th-15th century. Dia. 8 5/8 in. (22 cm). This is a finely crafted pot with a compressed globular body. It is covered with a purplish glaze with lavender-blue suffusions on the exterior, while the interior is covered with a rich mottled lavender-blue color. These color tones are characteristic of Jun ware.
A rare and exception Jun Jardiniere, Yuan-Ming dynasty, 14th – 15th century. Dia. 10 ¾ in. (27.3 cm). The body of this ornamental pot is molded with six lobes below the correspondingly lobed everted rim, and the exterior is covered with a lavender-blue glaze shading to brilliant purple color.
A yellow-glazed bowl from the Zhengde period of the Ming dynasty. Zhengde was the 11th emperor of the Ming dynasty who reigned from 1505 to 1521.

A great number of light yellow bowls were made during the 15th century. By the 16th century, a deeper yellow such as this bowl came in vogue, this yellow being a symbolic colour of the emperor who is considered the “Son of Heaven.”.

A porcelain bowl with copper-red glaze, Xuangde period (1426-1435), Height: 7.6 cm.

This elegant copper-red glazed bowl is characteristic of wares made during the reign of Emperor Xuangde. The dark ‘sacrificial red’ was also enamored by succeeding emperors who considered it an auspicious colour to use for sacrificial ceremonies and offerings to the god of the sun.

Bowl with monochrome white glaze, Hongzhi mark and period (1485-1505). Dia. 20.2 cm. Hongzhi wares have the reputation of being finely potted, as exemplified by this bowl with round sides and a flared rim.
Dark blue bowl with incised dragons, late Ming period. Diam. 18.2 cm.

Covered with a cobalt-blue glaze, this bowl is typical of the dark ‘sacrificial blue’ (jilan) famous under the Ming dynasty and representative of the bowl-shaped wares that were offered to the god of heaven during ceremonies. The dragons allude to the power of the Ming emperor as the personification of the gods.

QING MONOCHROME WARE

An extremely fine and brilliantly enamelled robin’s-egg glazed moon flask, incised seal mark and period of Emperor Qianlong. Height: 33.1 cm (13 in).

The body of this brilliant moon vase sweeps to a broad shoulder and a slender cylindrical neck, the neck flanked by a pair of loop handles. The exterior is vividly applied with a turquoise-blue glaze of robin’s egg type, suffused overall with finely mottled lavender and dark blue. The glaze represents a major technical innovation during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng period (1723-35.

A copper red glazed porcelain vase, Yongzheng mark. Height: 24 cm. This elegant pear-shaped vase is raised on a flared flat foot and tapers to a narrow neck and a trumpet mouth.
A rare lemon-yellow cup, mark and period of Yongzheng, Dia. 8.8 cm (3 3/8 in).

Measuring just 8.8 cm in diameter, this small cup with deep rounded sides features a brilliant lemon-yellow glaze, an innovation achieved during the Yongzheng period. The making of such ceramics was technically challenging as they require absolute precision in potting, glazing and firing. The smallest imperfection during any of these stages can destroy a piece.

A fine aubergine-glazed incised bowl underglaze blue. Yongzheng period, 18th century, Dia. 6¼ in. (15.9 cm). The exterior of this bowl is finely incised with a striding five-clawed dragon and a phoenix among flames and cloud scrolls above breaking waves around the base.
A blue-glazed pear-shaped vase, Qianlong mark and period (1736-1795). Height: 14 cm. This elegant vase features a globular body that rises to a tall neck with flaring rim. The entire vase is covered with a lustrous deep-blue glaze, stopping neatly at the foot.

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