Chinese Porcelain - A BBC Documentry
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- Опубліковано 3 лип 2024
- #ceramic #kamadogrill #pottery #porcelain
Ceramic, Pottery and Porcelain
Ceramics encompass a captivating realm of objects crafted from clay and hardened through high-temperature firing. This transformative process imbues these creations with remarkable strength, durability, and a timeless appeal. Within the vast ceramic universe reside two prominent members: pottery and porcelain, each boasting unique characteristics and a rich history.This video is an Chinese porcelain introduction made by @BBC
Pottery: The Humble Workhorse
Pottery represents the foundation of ceramics, a time-honored tradition stretching back millennia. Early civilizations discovered the remarkable properties of clay, shaping it into vessels for utilitarian purposes. From storing food and water to cooking meals over open fires, pottery became an indispensable part of daily life.
Made from readily available earthenware clays, pottery is typically fired at lower temperatures. This results in a more porous material, often with a distinctive, earthy aesthetic. The surface texture can range from smooth to slightly rough, and the color palette encompasses natural tones of brown, red, and beige. However, potters ingeniously employ slips and glazes to create a dazzling array of decorative effects.
The beauty of pottery lies not just in its functionality but also in its connection to human history. Each handcrafted piece embodies the ingenuity and artistry of its maker. From simple cooking pots to intricately decorated vases, pottery offers a tangible link to the past, whispering tales of bygone eras.
Porcelain: The Refined Beauty
Porcelain, often referred to as “fine china,” represents the pinnacle of ceramic artistry. Its creation demands meticulous attention to detail, from the selection of high-quality kaolin clays to the meticulous firing process at significantly higher temperatures. This intense heat transforms the clay into a non-porous, vitrified material, resulting in a remarkably smooth, translucent body.
The hallmark of porcelain is its ethereal beauty. It possesses a delicate, almost paper-thin quality, yet boasts surprising strength. The pristine white surface provides a perfect canvas for exquisite artistic expression. From intricate hand-painted designs to vibrant underglaze decorations, porcelain allows artisans to showcase their virtuosity.
Porcelain transcends mere functionality; it is a revered art form. Throughout history, it has been prized by royalty and collectors alike, a symbol of luxury and refinement. Whether adorning a royal table or gracing a museum display case, porcelain continues to captivate with its elegance and artistry.
Ceramic kamado grills(visit www.kamadogrill.org to know more) are typically made from pottery, rather than porcelain. This is primarily due to the following factors:
Accessible Material: Pottery’s affordability makes it an accessible material for kamado grill production. This readily available resource allows for large-scale manufacturing without compromising on quality, while offering a significant cost advantage over porcelain.
Heat Resistance: pottery possesses excellent heat resistance, enabling it to withstand the high temperatures generated during the grilling process. While porcelain also exhibits some degree of heat resistance, it falls short compared to pottery. Utilizing porcelain for kamado grills would necessitate the addition of fluxes during the firing process to lower the firing temperature. This, in turn, increases production costs and potentially compromises the grill’s quality.
Thermal Insulation: pottery boasts remarkable thermal insulation properties, effectively preventing heat loss from the kamado grill. This contributes to enhanced grill efficiency and maintains consistent food temperatures. Porcelain’s thermal insulation capabilities are inferior to pottery, leading to potential heat loss in porcelain-made kamado grills.
Breathability: pottery exhibits a degree of breathability, which facilitates smoke and moisture release during the grilling process. This is crucial for preventing excessive smoke and moisture buildup within the grill. Porcelain’s breathability is less pronounced compared to pottery, potentially leading to increased smoke and moisture accumulation in porcelain-made grills.
Ease of Processing: pottery is generally easier to work with compared to porcelain, making it more suitable for crafting kamado grills of various shapes and sizes. Porcelain’s harder texture poses greater challenges during the shaping process. - Навчання та стиль
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Every part of this world has something unique and wondrous. And its a shame that we don't look at each other the way we do pieces of art---precious.
A very deep and introspective perspective
We'd all end up on display in the British Museum of Plundred Art.
Well said!
I, at one time spent a lot of time around 18th century Chinese porcelain, i wish i would have known this story then. I only could appreciate it for being OLD.
I need more intriguing and scholarly content like this in my life.
Something about its gentle intellect is very soothing to follow. ☺️🤓
Our pleasure , leave a comment for the specific topic content.
@@KamadoGrill how about this: The reason nobody bothered to upgrade the mountain pass to allow for carts and oxen, or similar, is beyond me! If the path comprises a key section of a major trade route, relying on Literal Man-power Alone to complete the transit seems needless when you consider the Bulk being moved.
Something more efficient and reliable could Certainly have been done!
@@jclark2752 Like this, Covers many (geography, economic , technology, political reason...).
@@jclark2752 Actually you raised such an interesting point. I think your starting assumption was that, in the past, Chinese society was similar to the West of the 19th century, in that amenities which assisted trade and commerce would have been considered to be public goods. Therefore, it made a lot of commercial sense to upgrade the mountain passes. However, traditional Chinese society was not concerned with commerce. The ruling elites denigrated trade and commerce, seeing them as necessary evils, which had to be tolerated to keep society functioning, but to be kept within very strict controls. There was no desire to expand commerce, either within the realm or with foreign countries. The paths and roads around Jingdezhen were actually kept in a far better state of repair than most other places, but towards the north and the imperial capital to which the best products were sent. It was indifferent to the court whether the roads southwards to, first, the factories in Canton and later the treaty ports, could be well traversed. The other interesting point is that bulk commercial traffic was always of necessities - rice, tea, silk, salt and so on. The government thus spent a lot of money on the upkeep of canals and dikes, to ensure that adequate staples flowed by water using large transport barges on a large enough basis to keep cities and towns fed and clothed. Porcelains were a luxury; the roads leading to even an industrial cities like Jingdezhen were therefore not important to the ruling Confucian elite. Such roads would have been locally built and repaired, using locally raised funds, whether through specific taxes by the local magistrate, or exactions on merchants and peasants. And, contrary to general belief about the absolute nature of government in imperial China, often these exactions were resisted, forcing the magistrate to negotiate and compromise. Lastly, even up until the first half of the 20th century, manpower was extremely cheap and plentiful, and if manpower could keep the required volume of goods flowing, there was no need to expend money to upgrade the roads and do away with using large amounts of manpower. Of course, today the situation is different, and there are good communication networks throughout China which connect even relatively obscure towns and cities.
I found this doc extremely educational. Thank you. I was totally unaware of the dramatic life of the blue and white porcelain.
Thank you for posting this. I saw it when first broadcast and it's the best documentary on the manufacture and transport of Chinese porcelain i've encountered.
glad you like it
i just love the Chinese blue and whites remember my grandmother having a beautiful plate 🥰
That's lovely! Chinese blue and white porcelain has a timeless elegance that resonates with many people. Your grandmother had a wonderful piece.
We have porcelain ginger jars dating back from the late Ming and Qing dynasties, here in the Philippine Cordillera we use it to ferment rice wine, so priced in the past till now that a wine so sweet and strong we favor. I have one small jar dating back in around 1850s and still I use it to this day.
But this documentary did show the beauty and complexity of a hand crafted porcelains dating back from around the song dynasty up to the present, the trade and conflict that brought with it.
That's fascinating! It's wonderful to hear about your family's tradition of using porcelain ginger jars for fermenting rice wine.
Porcelain ginger jars originated in China, and their use in the Philippine Cordillera for rice wine fermentation highlights a beautiful blend of cultural influences. It speaks to the historical trade routes and cultural exchange between China and the Philippines.
Thank you BBC for a great documentary.
Great documentary! Thanks for uploading it !
Glad you enjoyed it!
The documentary is going back in history to show us how it was done centuries ago. It surely is not being done the same way nowadays.
Have coveted a piece of Song dynasty porcelain for years. Loved it after watching a programme about it
That sounds like a wonderful experience! Song dynasty porcelain （especially made in
Guan ware, also known as Official ware）is truly exquisite, and it's no wonder you've been captivated by it for years. Here( intl.dpm.org.cn/searchs/keywords/song ) is the entrance to the Song Dynasty collection of the official Palace Museum of China. You can see many fascinating Song Dynasty porcelains on it.
This Documentary is very well presented, looking forward to more of the same. Thank you so much 👍
Thoroughly Enjoyed this!! Thank you!!
thanks for watching
wonderful documentary, unusual for its depth and breadth, a pleasure to watch
thanks for watching
That was really good, thank you for uploading 🙂
thanks for watching
at least i got another piece of knowledge, priceless it is. Thank you BBC.
Thanks for watching
Great documentary, thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Brilliant documentary ... Lars please do more x mimi
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful documentary!! The research is thorough and the presentation is great!! Many thanks to the presenter. I admire his endurance through the hard work and compassion for the Chinese labours who did not leave a trace of their lives except the images in the art works!!
Glad you enjoyed it
I notice little pieces of his hammer flew off as he closed the bid. Is that common, or just when a high price is reached?
You noticed a very interesting detail.
This has been a great success
thanks
Very interesting !
Thanks so much for this very interesting, hope there's more to come,,from dublin Ireland 🇮🇪
Dublin was always a special place for The Cranberries, I love Dolores so much
43 million pounds for a pot.
The world is crazy.
These people depend on it lol
I thought this would be boring. Boy was I wrong.
Assembly line production was invented in China more than a thousand years ago. Let that sink in.
The concept we typically associate with assembly lines - a continuous moving line with standardized parts and specialized workers - is generally credited to Ransom E. Olds in the early 1900s for his automobile factory. This system revolutionized mass production.
So beautiful. I cherish my porcelain.
I noticed that the time line stopped before 1842. I wonder why that is?
This documentary focuses on a specific period in the chinese porcelain history, However, it's important to note that Chinese porcelain has a much longer and richer history that extends far beyond the 1842 timeline
I thoroughly enjoyed this Fascinating story from start to finish- I was a little surprized you picked a type of Vase that i think looks like it came from the dollar store🤣Beauty is in the eyes of beholder right!
glad you like it
One must admire the abosolute amoral stance BBC took in making this piece.
That auction at the end, 42 million pounds in the early 2000's for an ugly vase. That vase symbolizes the journey documented here, where people wore out their bodies just to capture the fancy of some rich people long ago.
Which is more amoral, the capitalists that paid but pennies to the poor souls who dragged these silly plates and knicknacks over a literal mountain - or the people around them who thought their lives wasn't worth anything more? Remember, the Europeans didn't know their toil, only the Chinese themselves. Now compare this to mines in Africa today, and look at your electronics. Are you someone who can point at anything and claim a higher moral standing?
@@98ZaiYour moralizing, is utterly boring znd yawn inducing. Pity those who have to exist with you.
Persian Culture has gifted the world with “Persian Carpet”,,, and Chinese Culture; “Porcelain”!!👏👏🌷🌷💝💝🥰🥰
“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is one of my favourite game. Love Persian Culture so much.
You could compare this to the people buying electric cars with zero knowledge or interest in where and how the lithium is mined.
So let's get straight to the content of kamado grill?
It surprises me how much of China is still so rural, considering the history of the country.
You're right, it can be surprising to see how much rural area remains in China despite its economic growth and reputation as a manufacturing powerhouse.
@@KamadoGrill and the time. Thousands of years or distinct civilizations.
No one said OVERCAPACITY then ?😂❤
And I thought the spice trade was insane...then the silk trade...then the tea trade...it just goes on and one. I suppose if single tulip bulbs used to be worth millions in The Netherlands and in the 1980s Tokyo real estate was valued as much as the Continental US, then anything goes when market commodity traders get high.
What was Britain trading for the porcelain?
Silver, Wool, Textiles and others.
After 1842 they mostly traded opium. The British army made sure they were willing to accept it.
@@KamadoGrill Opium.
@@roberttai646 The British opium trade with China started in the 18th century, and became a major point of contention in the 19th century's Opium Wars.
Opiumm
The Bainbridge family must have been quite delighted with the auction yield of £ 43 Million ( $ 55.5 Million ). I would have been quite flummoxed to realise I'd returned home often from the pub late at night, only to shake the rain off my umbrella and chuck it forcefully - point down - into this 'pot', pretending I was spearing a rat. ¡ Mein Gott !
Kaolin. A soft silicate mineral.
Kaolin is the most famous silicate mineral, It is the important material of the porcelain.
( : My Mom would have liked the IRIS one, and my Grandmother would have really liked the SUNFLOWER one : )
good taste
✋✋ Philippines
ALSO GOOD : )
👍👏
❤procelin then, ev now🎉 bravo china❤
Explore Golgumbaz Deccan india 🇮🇳
This documentary is at least 20 years old. China is so much more modern and advanced now
I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue China
Every nation nees a central gov special metaa oft fiubd in the reguons they goveen that wil cqlm wars ans inxrease peqce .
Lets have - some interesting and beautiful comments - then.
One can certainly - learn - from them.
Fare thee well - on life's journey
@13:33 Chinese potters did not discover porcelain in 10th century. They were taught by South Indian traders from Tamilnadu, India who had a colony in South China. Traders from Pallava dynasty taught Chinese about high end pottery making and offourse the Chinese rapidly advanced the productivity. History was distorted by its writers.
It's true that history can be biased, but in this case, the evidence points to China being the birthplace of porcelain.
You're confusing porcelain with possibly some generic pottery skills that no one country has been attributed to as having started. Kerlain only comes from that one mountain in China in all the world. Today's replicas like feldspar are of a different composition.
@@trekon2023 @KamadoGrill When you repeat one story a million times over a long time period, you have no choice other than to believe the story. Please research on the Chinese and Pallava trade between 8th and 12th centuries. I am sure this will open a new perspective on historical evidence. Also, I am not saying this to tarnish your documentary in bbc. I have no agenda at all. Just reminding, there are facts beyond your evidence too.
a lot of inaccuracies, but i guess entertaining for the uneducated masses.
A lot of white washing as well. After impoverishing themselves the English found another currency to buy porcelain, opium.
Thanks for watching. Our honor to have Expert level audience!
@@KamadoGrill You didn't make this program so i guess this doesn't affect you. It is entertaining, like Jurassic park but we kn ow Jurassic park is not accurate right.
@@Hannari-xt6nr We are also experts in certain fields. I totally agree with what you said. As the saying goes, "every industry is like a mountain between two worlds" But on the other hand, We still hope you can share your views.
I couldn't care less about this porcelain crap....is something i might have said brfore watching this. Never again. Never again.
STOP CHINESE AGGRESSION!!!
"...in Europe you would have only seen stone-wares and earthen-wares, ...rough pots"...utter BBC smucky codswallop (should be : "In Northern Europe... "
A significant development in European ceramics was the introduction of tin-glazed earthenware in the 13th century. This technique, also known as majolica, originated in the Islamic world and was adopted by Italian potters. Majolica wares were known for their vibrant colors and decorative motifs.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin-glazed_pottery
The English "artist " is making a mockery of the craft. No talent.
Very unique point of view
Booooooo loUSY video about buying trends NOT PORCELAIN. bOOOOOOO
thanks for watching
love the rubbish commentary. It was pretty normal for people to die at 40 years old all over the world at that point in time. so nothing special about the apparent higher mortality working in Jinge. 41:18 Sugar?? hahahaha where were people finding sugar in THOSE times anywhere in the world? Sugar was luxury until 19th Century in Europe thanks to the great expanse of slave laboured plantations. Peasants and workers all the world over in ancient times and even in present day ate a carb rich diet. Only the rich ate meat. FAT was prized above all by practically every society back then but our lady said yucks to it lol. So much for putting this in historical context. Nope... if they could not afford meat, they could not afford fat. so one wonders where the fat that these workers supposedly ate came from lol.
"...Sugar?? hahahaha where were people finding sugar in THOSE times anywhere in the world..." Never heard of Sugar Cane? It is grown all over southern China and Asia and has been for centuries, if not millenia.
In the 16th century China was much more sophisticated and rich than England. This was reversed in the 19th century. But in the 21st century, England returned to occupy a subordinate position in relation to China. This obviously makes the English upper class seethe with anger and envy, but the Chinese are not to blame for the failure of the rainy island. If China ruled England it is very likely that that country would not be bogged down by the stupid austerity that concentrates wealth, depresses the economy and impoverishes and saddens the English population.
History waves
What is your definition of sophistication? Does it include the absence of courvee labour?
I wonder if the economic reversal could have had anything to do with the fact that the British military occupied China starting with the first Opium War in 1842 and forced the opium trade on them, then the other powers piled on and demanded the Unequal Treaties, brought Christianity which led to the Tientsin War. China suffered under occupation for over 100 years from 1842 until 1949. Imagine if that were done to Merry Olde England.
@@yomismosoyelregalo2266 while China was in a situation where it cannot reform itself.Regardless of the historical context, China and Britain are still great and respected countries.
Very interesting!
Thanks