[VIRTUAL UMAG] Glazed and Fired: Celadon Ceramics from the UMAG Collection

 

Pre–dating the Neolithic period, ceramic wares are some of the earliest man–made objects to integrate science, technology and the arts. With a long history of innovation and craftsmanship, celadon wares have provided a crucial reference point for the study of ceramic production in China. The term ‘celadon’ historically refers to specific types of ceramics coated with a green–coloured glaze. Taking its name from a French literary character best known for his distinctive green attire, some scholars prefer to avoid this arbitrary Western construction and instead apply the term ‘greenware’. 

 

Constant advances in raw material selection, firing techniques and the shaping of forms have enabled celadon ceramics to develop continuously over the past two millennia. The UMAG collection of celadon spans a period of more than fifteen hundred years of celadon’s history, from the early lead–glazed pottery of the Han (漢朝; 202 BCE–220 CE) to the stunning Guan wares of the Song dynasty (宋朝; 960–1279 CE), providing a rich overview of the traditions and transitions of these widely–coveted objects. This virtual exhibition complements the on–site exhibition of the same title, which will be unveiled soon at the Study Gallery in the historic Fung Ping Shan building.

 

View the virtual exhibition here



Image: Bowl, Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279 CE), Stoneware with crackled celadon glaze, HKU.C.1990.0931