In the brilliant world of ceramic art, dragon patterns are not only a kind of decoration, but also contain profound craft secrets. Dragon patterns drawn by different ceramic techniques have their own unique charm and historical background. One picture can take you to appreciate the exquisiteness of them.
1. Doucai-The exquisite fusion of blue and white and colored porcelain
Doucai was born during the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty, reached its peak and was highly praised during the Chenghua period. Its craftsmanship is unique. First, the underglaze blue and white porcelain must be fired at a high temperature of up to 1300°C. Then, mineral pigments are used for secondary coloring, carefully filling the blanks reserved for the blue and white pattern, and carefully dyeing the space within the blue and white outline. After completion, it is sent to a small kiln again and baked at a low temperature of 800°C to create a Doucai masterpiece. The dragon pattern on the Doucai porcelain has both the calmness of blue and white and the gorgeousness of colored porcelain due to this unique craftsmanship. The lines and colors complement each other, showing agility and exquisiteness.
2. Enamel-Luxurious colored porcelain used by the imperial court
Enamel was first fired in the late Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. It was an extremely precious porcelain used exclusively by the imperial court during the reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong. It was unique among the porcelain used by the imperial family of the Qing Dynasty and can be regarded as the pinnacle of overglaze colored porcelain. It has a slightly raised surface, rich and heavy color materials, bright and eye-catching colors, and is mostly small objects. Its craft originated from the West, so it is also called porcelain-body painted enamel. The dragon patterns on enamel colored porcelain often exude a noble and majestic royal atmosphere under the delicate brushstrokes and gorgeous colors, showing the ultimate luxury of court art.
3. Alum-red dragon pattern: the pioneer color of overglaze color
Alum-red dragon pattern first appeared in the Song Dynasty. As the pioneer of various colored porcelain on glaze, it was used in the Ming Dynasty. It uses ferric oxide suspension as a colorant to form low-temperature red glaze and red color, also known as "iron red", "red color" and "rainbow color". Its color is as bright and vivid as a ripe orange. When firing, glaze is first applied to the fired white body, and then it is put into the kiln for the second time and fired at a temperature of about 900℃. The dragon image of the alum-red dragon pattern shows a simple and warm charm in this unique red rendering, carrying the weight and inheritance of history.
4. Pastel: the charm of soft colors with soft colors
Pastel began in the Kangxi period, gradually matured in the Yongzheng period, and reached prosperity in the Qianlong period. When making it, first apply a foundation containing arsenic substances on the fired body glaze, then apply pigments, and finally wash the pigments with a brush. Thanks to the emulsification effect of arsenic, the color produces a powdery effect, making the pastel color soft and delicate, the block color performance is rich and varied, and the layers are clear, so it is also called soft color. In the middle of the Qing Dynasty, pastel broke the long-term dominance of blue and white porcelain with its unique charm. The dragon pattern on the pastel porcelain, with the soft color and delicate texture, seems to be endowed with a different kind of warmth and agility, and has a unique artistic style.
5. Gold color: Golden splendor on ceramics
The application of gold color on ceramics began in the Tang Dynasty, mainly in two decorative techniques: gold drawing and gold pasting. Gold drawing is to mix gold powder into an appropriate amount of glue, dip it with a brush and then carefully draw it on the porcelain surface. In the Ming Dynasty, it was quite common for Jingdezhen to use gold color to decorate porcelain, especially for multicolored wares. The dragon pattern decorated with gold color, whether it is the delicate lines of gold drawing or the gorgeous texture of gold pasting, adds dazzling light and noble temperament to the dragon pattern, making it stand out among many ceramic decorations, showing luxury and solemnity.
6. Ink color: Ink on porcelain in the black and white world
Ink color is created on the porcelain glaze that is bluish white after firing. It is mainly black, and uses alum red, gold and other color materials to depict patterns on the white glaze surface, and then baked in a color furnace. The dragon pattern on the ink-colored porcelain is like a vivid ink painting on the porcelain. In the black and white tones, through simple and powerful lines and color matching, it shows the charm and momentum of the dragon, full of unique artistic appeal, giving people a simple and elegant aesthetic enjoyment.
7. Blue and White: A Classic in Porcelain Painted with Cobalt Blue
Blue and white originated in the Tang and Song Dynasties, matured in the Yuan Dynasty, and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Its production process uses cobalt ore containing cobalt oxide as raw material, carefully draws patterns on the ceramic body, then covers it with a layer of transparent glaze, and finally fires it in a high-temperature reducing flame. After firing, the cobalt material presents a bright blue color, with the remarkable characteristics of strong coloring power, stable color development and high firing rate. Blue and white dragon-patterned porcelain runs through almost every dynasty. The dragon pattern image of each dynasty is unique due to the differences in aesthetics and craftsmanship at the time, either strong and powerful, or elegant and agile, becoming a classic in the history of ceramics, witnessing the cultural style and artistic pursuit of different historical periods.
8. Underglaze red: the legendary craft of underglaze red color
Underglaze red originated in the Yuan Dynasty, developed in the Yongle and Xuande periods of the Ming Dynasty, and reached its peak in the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. Its production process is basically the same as that of blue and white porcelain of the same period. It uses copper oxide as a colorant, paints patterns on the body, covers it with transparent glaze, and then puts it into a high-temperature reducing flame atmosphere for firing. Because the red pattern is under the glaze, it is named underglaze red porcelain. The dragon pattern on the underglaze red porcelain, the red color is looming under the glaze, like a dragon in the abyss, giving people a mysterious and profound beauty. This unique artistic effect makes it a treasure in ceramic art, which is highly cherished and respected.
