Longquan Celadon - 龍泉青磁

 

Longquan is a famous historical and cultural city.   

This city is noted for its celadon and is located in the southwest of Zhejiang province in China. 

Archaeological surveys have revealed that there are more than 500 ancient kiln sites of Longquan celadon that have been found, with more than 360 that are situated within the city that forms a huge ceramic kiln system. 

Some of these kilns dates back to the Western Jin dynasty and became more sophisticated during the northern Song dynasty. 

The celadon technique reached its peak of perfection during the middle and late southern Song dynasty. 

Fen ching - lavender grey and meizi ching - plum green became the trademark celadon glazing colors of this region. 

Ge kiln was one of the Five Famed Kilns of Song Dynasty along with the Guan, Ru, Ding and Jun kilns. 

The celadon technique of Longquan Kiln promoted the development of kilns in other parts of China. Longquan celadon reached its peak during the Song and Yuan dynasty.

Leaf-shaped cup
China, Zhejiang Province; Southern Song (1127–1279)
to Yuan (1279–1368) period (1127–1368), 13th century
Stoneware with glaze (Longquan ware).

The organic shape, elegant grayish green glaze, and crazing of this unusual leaf-shaped cup illustrate the existence of close ties between some of the Longquan kilns, located not far from the Southern Song capital at Lin’an (now called Hangzhou), and the bluish-green glazed Guan ware produced for the Southern Song court.

Longquan celadon ware was exported from China to the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the East Coast of Africa during the Song and Yuan dynasty.   

During the Ming dynasty the production of Longquan celadon ware continued however the quality declined and began to disappear  during the Qing dynasty.

There are 2 traditional classifications to Longquan celadon ware – Geyao and Diyao.  

The tale of Geyao and Diyao emerged from the record of the Ming dynasty period.  

 The Zhang brothers  were living in Longquan County  and were masters at ceramics. 

The ceramics made by the younger brother is called Diyao while that by the elder brother is called Geyao. 

There is no evidence for to prove the existence of the two brothers. 

However, it did create two ways of making ceramics at the Longquan kilns. 

Censer
China, Zhejiang Province
Southern Song period (1127–1279), late 12th–early 13 th century
Stoneware with glaze (Ge ware)

The delicate gray-green color of the glaze on this piece shows the influence of the earlier Northern Song imperial taste that carried into the preferences of the Southern Song court. This censer takes its form from the shape of a Western Zhou-dynasty (ca. 1050–771 B.C.E.) ritual food vessel called a gui, reflecting the impact of Southern Song period interest in antiquarianism among literati. Song period emperors, most notably Huizong, adopted cultured tastes of these educated elite and popularized them at court.

Geyao, the elder brother kiln,  had a black clay body with a purple rim and iron brown bottom. 
The sparkling and crystal-clear glaze of Geyao celadon made it look like jade or ice. 

Ge kiln was one of the Five Famed Kilns of the Song Dynasty along with the Guan, Ru, Ding and Jun kilns.  
The celadon from Ge Kiln has a black body with crackles in the glaze layer under the glazed surface. The crackles in Ge Kiln celadon are magnificent and ancient-looking. 
There are different crackle patterns including ice crackle, crab claw crackle, ox hair crackle, water flow crackle, fish roe crackle, eel blood, a hundredfold crackle, etc. 
Ge Kiln celadon also has a characteristic called "purple rim and iron foot", and its glaze layer is thick opaque or translucent. 
Together with crackles, Ge Kiln celadon appears more ancient-looking, elegant, and precious among all celadon wares.

Their ceramics became the most outstanding for the shape, glazing color and crackling.

 The crackling is difficult to control by human and it forms by nature, applying for the aesthetic interest of natural and simple antique varieties. 

Diyao, the younger brother kiln, features thick, white clay pieces covered in a bluish glaze that gives them a glittering and translucent appearance and moist texture. 
Fen ching (lavender grey) and meizi ching (plum green) are the best celadon glazing colors and below them is dou ching (bean green). 
The celadon produced in the Di Kiln has the following characteristics: white or cinnabar porcelain body, thick and rich glaze layer, fresh green glaze color, and glossy soft, glistening moisture, jade-like appearance. 

There are many different colors such as: plum green, powder green, pale green, pea green, light blue, gray and yellow, and etc. 
Among them, powder green and plum green are the most sought after.

The green glazing color is enhanced with orange footing or Lutai patterns. 

Ceramics with Lutai patterns appear abundantly in the middle and late Southern Song period, especially in the Yuan period. 

Design elements such as faces, hands, foots of portraits, clouds, dragons, flowers in the bottom of artifacts are quite unique.

http://www.theteahorsecaravan.com/2012/08/ge-kiln.html 

Southern Song dynasty Longquan Kiln

 

Celadon and Celadonware

Celadon is a term for a glaze  and a type of ceramic ware.

 It is also used as a name for a color - a pale, greyish shade of green.

The glaze of this color is commonly used in Korean and Chinese pottery.

The pigment is normally a pale sea-green however the original style was to make the pigments darker.

Celadon is a pale green pigment produced by artisans that uses a specific clay and pottery technique creating a style that is now associated with the name.

Celadon or Gingci as it is known, is an ancient type of glaze used by the ancient Chinese and was the most favored type of ceramic ware during the Song dynasty.

These ceramics have a blue-green glaze.

The term "celadon" for the pottery's pale jade-green glaze was coined by European connoisseurs of these wares.

Celadon glazes are high-fire reduction glazes.

'True celadon'  requires a minimum of 1260°C (2300°F) furnace temperature.

The preferred range is of 1285° to 1305°C (2345° to 2381°F).

The 'true celadon' was  created in China during the beginning 

of the Northern Song Dynasty 960–1127.

The unique grey or green celadon glaze is a result of iron oxide's transformation from ferric to ferrous iron (Fe₂O₃ → FeO) during the firing process.

Celadon glazes are usually glossy, transparent and they often have a crackle effect, with a wide range of colors.

A varienty of shades of green, blue,gray, white and yelllow - reminiscent of jade.

These glazes can change colors depending on the thickness and the clay body.

See also the following:

http://gotheborg.com/glossary/celadon.shtml 

Recipe: Summer Tisanes Compote

This is a wonderful breakfast tisanes with aloevera, apples, crushed pineapple, fresh raspberries in a tisanes that is made of lotus tea, orange rinds, chrysanthemum flowers, honeysuckle flowers and honeyed licorice.
This is a great way to start a hot summer day.
Cools the body's systems and enables the the body to be nourished without stressing the digestion.

Recipe - Serves 2

1/2 cup Aloe Vera compote
1 apple - cored, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup crushed pineapple
1/2 cup fresh Raspberries

tisanes

Tisanes:
3 tbsp dried  orange rinds
3 tbsp Chrysanthemum flowers
2 tbsp Honeysuckle flowers
1 stick Honeyed Licorice
2 tbsp Vietnamese Lotus Tea
8 cups purified water

Preparation:
Place the tisanes ingredients in a pot with the 8 cups of water.
Bring to a simmer for 45 mins.
Let cool.

Place the fruits into 2 bowls and scoop the tisanes into the bowls.
Serve at room temperature or slightly tepid.

Recipe: Aloe Vera Tisane

Aloe Vera is an excellent coolant for hot summer  days.

Ingredients:

Aloe Vera Compote

5 Aloe Vera spears - peeled and cubed

2 oz palm sugar

2 cups water

1 lemon - juiced

Tisanes:

2 tbsp any type of tea preferred

2 tbsp dried orange rinds

2 tbsp Chrysanthemum flowers

Preparation:

Place all the ingredients in a pot and bring it to a simmer.

Simmer until all the mucilage from the Aloe Vera is dissolved.

This will take about 45 mins.

Let cool.

Mix all the tisanes ingredients ina pot and cover with 4 cups of water.

Simmer for 30 mins.

Let cool.

Scoop 2-3 tbsp of Aloe Vera compote into a bowl and and pour the tisanes onto the compote. 

Serve.

Bamboo Tisanes

Bamboo, plants are a type of grass. It is the fastest growing plant in the world. Some varieties grow at a peak rate of 5 cm (2 inches) per hour; more typical rates are 10 cm per day. 

Due to their strong stems, bamboo can tower several meters. 

The tallest reaching bamboo plants are about 20 meters (over 60 feet). 

According to recent estimates, there are 36 bamboo forests still present in China despite intensive harvesting for centuries.   

These Bamboo forests cover 4-7 million hectares (11-19 million acres) making up 3-5% of China's forests. 

China has an estimated 300 species of bamboos in 39 genera. India is second to China in bamboo harvest. 

Although, India has larger bamboo forests, making up nearly 13% of the country's forest area. The annual global bamboo harvest is 10 million tons, and growing.

Bamboo is best known for its hard stems /culms that are used in place of wood for a variety of applications, including furniture, scaffolding, flutes, fence posts, flooring, and even bicycle frames.

 Bamboos also serve as decorative plants; the tender shoots are used in Chinese and South East Asian cuisine. 

Bamboo has been a primary subject of many Chinese as well as books was written on bamboo slats and bamboo has been used as a source of medicine since ancient times. 

Bamboo Leaf Tisanes is an introduction from South Korean. 

The tisanes are made from the leaves of young bamboo plants.  

The process to make these tisanes drinkable involves roasting, steam boiling and scenting. 

The introduction of bamboo tisanes is relatively new. 

 The first research done into Bamboo tisanes first began in 1994 at the Chonnam National University in South Korea. 

 Patents were granted in 2002 and production of Bamboo Leaf Tisanes started on a large scale.  

These tisanes are still rather new in the US and available for purchase online.

Bamboo tisanes are rich in fiber, protein and are caffeine-free. 

 The Bamboo tisanes brew yields a light golden color with a faint bamboo aroma and flavor. 

This beverage is very smooth.  

These tisanes have the ability to re-steep at least twice without getting bitter.

Zhu Ye Qing - Chinese bamboo Green Tea

Bamboo Leaf Tisanes is not to be confused with the Chinese Green Bamboo Tea – the Camellia Sinensis variety. 

 A monk near the top of the famous Buddhist Mountain Emei Shan first made Chinese Green Bamboo Tea. 

This tea contains no bamboo. 

 The name was derived from the unique shaping method created by the monk.  

Local government officials noticed its flat, glossy bamboo leaf shape and rich emerald color and so deemed it Green Bamboo Tea - 竹叶青绿茶 - Zhu Ye Qing. 

 It has a mellow taste and sweet aroma.

Zhu Ye Qing - Bamboo Green Tea Brew

New Items: Shui Fang - Waste Water Bowl

 

This is a horse hair style of pottery.

The decoration is done through an application of horsehair and other dry carbonaceous material to the already heated bisque pottery of 480 -700 degrees C. 

This creates smoke patterns and carbon trails on the surface of the pottery.

 When the object cools it leaves a trail of the carbonaceous material.

It is considered a form of Western style Raku pottery ware.

The technique uses Raku style kilns, tools and firing methods.

 Although it uses a pit fired and primitive firing techniques. 

This pot measures at Height 5 3/4 in x Diameter 5 1/4 in x Circumference 17 in

An excellent and beautiful piece for a Shui Fang.

Raku pottery is a 16th century pottery technique from Japan used to make Japanese tea ceremony utensils.

It is characterized by hand shaped, fairly porous vessels, which result from low firing temperatures. 

In the traditional Japanese process, the pottery pieces are removed from the hot kiln, cooled in the open air or in a container filled with combustible carbonaceous material.

This particular piece of pottery was acquired in the Southwest in New Mexico.

Hand made by the local artist.

It makes an ideal Sui Fang - waste water bowl for your Chinese Gong Fu Tea setup.

http://www.teafirst.com/SATNOT-ShuiFangBowls-Pg-6.html

  

This particular piece is also from New Mexico, the Southwest of the US.

It has the following dimensions - Height 5 1/4 in x Diameter 5 1/4 in x Circumference 18 in

It makes an excellent Shui Fang as well.

The meaning of the symbols that are usually found on Native American pottery are circulars and feathers.

Circulars feathers usually mean the sun or the Creator. 

The Creator or sun are usually represented in the circular design.

Feathers are symbols of prayers, marks of honor idea sources. 

Their use represents the creative force and closeness to the Creator.

http://www.teafirst.com/SATNOT-ShuiFangBowls-Pg-6.html 

Read more on Waste Water Bowls:

http://www.theteahorsecaravan.com/2012/11/shui-fang-cha-yu-waste-water-bowls.html

http://www.theteahorsecaravan.com/2012/11/a-tea-service-complement-waste-bowl.html

Clay - Yixing Purple Sand, Zisha, Zhu Ni and Duan Ni

Yixing clay is often used as an umbrella term to describe several distinct types of clay used to make stoneware.

Purple Sand clay is made from Yixing clay. 

This traditional style was commonly used to brew tea in China.

It dates back to the 15th century.

Archaeological excavations have revealed that as early as the Song Dynasty - 10th century, potters near Yixing were using local "zisha" clay to make utensils that could have functioned as teapots. 

The late Ming Dynasty author Zhou Gaoqi stated that during the reign of the Zhengde Emperor (1502–1521) a monk from Jinsha Temple - Golden Sand Temple in Yixing handcrafted a fine quality teapot from local clay. 

These fine quality teapots soon became popular among the scholarly class, and the fame of Yixing teapots began to spread.  

Yíxīng teapots are actually made in Dīngshān.

Also known as Dingshu, which falls within the administrative area of Yixing. 

Hundreds of teapot shops line the edges of the town's crowded streets and it is a popular tourist destination. 

 Dīngshān is home to dozens of ceramics factories, Yíxīng Zǐshā Factory Number 1, which opened in 1958, processes a large part of the clay used in the region, produces fine pottery ware, and has a large commercial showroom.  

 

• Zisha 紫砂 or 紫泥 ; literally means purple sand/clay. This stoneware has a purple-red-brown color. Producing region for this clay is Jiangsu Yixing Zhao Zhuangshan, Huanglong mountain.
  Teapots made with this clay fire at approximately 1065~1700 degrees C. The contraction ratio for this clay is high and therefore fired under high temperatures. The clay is sentive and does not do well with larger wares. It has the tendency to crack, deform and sand partiicles fall out after firing. Working with the clay requires patience and great skill. Due to its high porosity the teapot made from this clay brews tea very well due to it excellent air convection. The best types of teas to brew in a Zisha clay teapot is the Tit Kuan Yin, Taiwan High Mountain, Oolong and Puer.

• Cautionary Tale: On March 10,  2011 the Yixing Teapot Art Institute in China reported that there was a massive recall of Yixing Teapots because it was uncovered by a reporter that the manufacturer has deliberately use toxic coloring to achieve the Purple Clay clay. 

See Following: 
 Media exposure beauty purple pot purple clay liner is made ​​with the Land and, in order to make it close to purple in color, many manufacturers add iron Pink, manganese dioxide and other chemicals for dyeing, at the same time being there are nine positive brand exposure . A time to have purple pot shelves. May 26 afternoon, the reporter deliberately visited Jinan Suning, Gome, triple trading company, several large supermarkets and stores more information about the handling of purple pot. Jinan, the survey found that all of America, nine Yang Yixing pot can be fully refunded ( March 10, 2011 05:40:48 Source: Purple House Editor: Zi Yan)

 

• Zhusha or Zhu Ni 朱砂 or 朱泥; literally means cinnabar sand/clay. It is a reddish brown stoneware with a very high iron content. The name only refers to the sometimes bright red hue of cinnabar 朱砂; pinyin: zhūshā. There are currently 10 mines still producing Zhu Ni clay. Due to the increasing demand for Yixing stoneware, Zhu Ni clay is now very limited  in quantities. Zhu Ni clay is not to be confused with Hong Ni (红泥, literally means red clay. This is another type of red clay. 

 Basic components in this clay include aluminum, calcium and quartz.

The most interesting component of Zhu Ni clay is that it contains high concentration of iron.

 The iron component in Zhu Ni clay is so high which is why Zhu Ni pots are usually red.

 The Zhu Ni teapots are small and thin.

 The pots have a shorter heat storage capacity. 

The heat within the pot will dissipate easily. 

Due to the clay, the body of the pot will interact and respond

 to the external environment and temperature.

This causes an organic response with the tea, which can and will yield a better aroma and fragrance. The tea will have a smooth flavor.

A Zhu Ni clay teapot requires frequent and consistent use.

The clay has a tendency to dry out and shrink when not used. 

When a Zhu Ni clay teapot is being used again after a long storage it is recommended to re-season the clay.

 DO NOT POUR HOT WATER DIRECTLY INTO THE POT!

The pot will crack if hot water is poured directly into it.

The correct method is to cover the lid of the pot and allow warm water to wash down from the lid to the body of the pot. 

This will warm the pot and reduce the temperature between the pot and the boiled water.

 After repeating this process for one or two times, you will be able to put brew tea and pour the water directly into the pot. 

This will prevent the teapot from cracking since the pot has already been warmed up and can endure higher temperatures.

 

• Duan Ni 鍛泥; literally means fortified clay. It is a type of stoneware that was formulated using various stones and minerals in addition to Zi Ni or Zhu Ni clay. This results in various textures and colors, ranging from beige, blue, and green (绿泥), to black.

Ben Shan Lu Ni is formed within the layers of the purple clay 

of the Huang Long Mountain rock formation.

 The ancient name is known as the Li Pi clay Pear Skin clay or the Dragon Tendons. 

This clay is scarce and rare. 

The difficulty in mining and sourcing the clay makes it scarce and rare.

 It is generally beige after firing. 

The combination of Ben Shan Lu Ni and purple clay is used to produce Duan Ni.

 This clay requires very high firing temperatures.

 It is a difficult process in comparison to the production of other types of clay teapots.

The base color of the Duan Ni is not pure. 

White and black particles are found and become integrated into the beige base color. 

There are usually more black particles.

These are particles are surrounded by the yellow and white particles in a granules form. 

These particles are is not very prominent.

The layering between the particles are not obvious. 

The overall color of the pot always appears beige.

Sesame Duan is completely opposite to Ben Shan Lu Ni in terms of layers.
 Its base color is partial white, slightly dull with black and reddish particles.
The lack of white particles and the contrast in color makes
these black and reddish particles quite prominent.
 When compared with Ben Shan Lu Ni clay it is as if having colored dots all over this thin layer of dull white chiffon clay.
 From the density of the dark particles, it is clear that
Sesame Duan have significantly larger black particle density.
The color of Sesame Duan is highlighted and the layer of it is much clearer.
 Although Sesame Duan also has white particles.
These particle numbers are small and visibility is low.
On the whole the color tone of Sesame Duan is cold and rigid.

The differences between the clays are even more obvious after using the pot for brewing tea for a period of time.
Ben Shan Lu Ni will show a greenish hue.
 The beige base color will become more intense, soft and moist like Jade.
In contrast, the red particles in Sesame Duan will become dark red.
If the pot is used to brew Puer Tea the patina will increase and intensify.
 Long term brewing with Pure turns the pot to grow in reddish color.
Ben Shan Lu Ni feels smooth before and even after brewing with tea.
 Sesame Duan in contrast will feel rough and grainy.

 

Iron concentrations within clay 

When the iron concentration within a clay is around 4% the color of the pot after it is made will be light yellow.

About  7% iron concentrations it is called Satin Mud in Chinese Duan Ni 缎泥 - this yields a yellow. Iron concentrations of 10% will showed a natural or light gray.

Iron concentrations of 13% will be brown or coffee.

The iron concentrations in clay that are from 14% to 18% are usually red.

A Teacup Repair Job - Part 2

First day of tea soaking

After 1st soak

2nd Day of tea soaking

Rubbing in the tea leaves to patina the area

Comparison between 2

 

The completed repair.

A Teacup Repair Job - Part 1

This particular cup comes with a teapot, 4 teacups, a justice pot - all made in Taiwan by a well known artisan.

It is a collector's item. 

This set has travelled from Taiwan to California to Canada and back to California.

In it's last journey it encountered a slight mishap.

One of the cups chipped and the handle of the teapot broke in 2 and snapped of the body of the teapot.

The teapot is in the midst of repair - photos to follow.

This however is the repair job for the chipped teacup.

I did my best!

The chip at the lip of the teacup was unfortunate but this is its journey back from the Land of Broken Things.

CLOSE UP OF THE CHIP

These are the tools I used.

Acquired from the manicure/pedicure section of any department store.

A coarse grit nail file, a medium grit nail file and a Buffer cube for the finishing touches.

This is after some filing with the coarse and medium grit file. 

I started with a medium grit then to the coarse and back to the medium.

Proceeded with a coarse file on this to get the deep nicks out of the chip.

The chip in the teacup itself was rather odd - it was almost gouged.

This was the finished work after filing, and buffing.

The cup is currently soaking in some strong Puer tea to create a blending into the glaze.

Since the glaze is a crackelee finish, the hope is to make the repair work disappear.

Will post finished repair when teacup is done curing.