Guan ware facts for kids
Guan ware (pronounced Gwan) is a special type of pottery from ancient China. It was made during the Song dynasty, which was a very important time for Chinese art. The name "Guan" means "official" in Chinese. This is because these beautiful pots were made especially for the emperor and his court.
What makes Guan ware unique is its amazing crackled glaze. This means the shiny surface of the pottery has a network of tiny lines, like cracks. These lines are part of the design and make each piece look very special.
Guan ware became important after the Song dynasty lost control of its northern lands. The emperor had to move his capital south to a city called Hangzhou. The old kilns (pottery workshops) in the north were no longer available. So, new official kilns were set up in the south to make pottery for the emperor. It's thought that skilled potters from the north moved south to help make these new imperial wares.
In 2015, a Guan ware vase from the Southern Song period was sold for a huge amount of money: 14.7 million US dollars!
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Where and When Guan Ware Was Made
The new Southern Song capital was set up in Hangzhou in the year 1127. It probably took some time before the pottery kilns were built. This might have happened after the fighting with invaders ended in 1141.
Finding the First Kiln Site
Old Chinese records say that the first official kiln was near the palace. It was called "Xiuneisi." For a long time, people weren't sure exactly where this kiln was. Many places around Hangzhou were explored, and pottery pieces were found. But the exact spot was hard to find because of new buildings.
Now, after digging started in 1996, experts believe they have found the site. It's called the Laohudong or Tiger Cave Kiln. This kiln used a special type of oven called a "mantou kiln," which was usually found in the north.
The Second Kiln at Jiaotanxia
A second official kiln was built later. It was located on the edge of the new capital, at a place called Jiaotanxia. This site has also been found and explored by archaeologists.
People at the time thought the pottery from this second kiln wasn't quite as good as the first. The pottery pieces found there are very similar to those made at the nearby Longquan kilns. It's possible that Longquan kilns even helped make Guan ware when the official kilns couldn't keep up with orders.
When Did Guan Ware Production End?
We don't know exactly when Guan ware stopped being made. However, a book from the 1300s, written during the Ming dynasty, suggests it was still being produced around the year 1400 or even later.
What Guan Ware Looks Like
Guan ware is known for its unique look. It's usually easy to tell it apart from other types of pottery like Ru ware. However, some pieces from the second Guan kiln can look very similar to Longquan ware.
The Famous Crackled Glaze
The crackled glaze is a key feature of Guan ware. These cracks appear when the pottery cools down after being fired. The glaze (the shiny coating) and the clay body shrink at different rates. This creates a network of lines on the surface.
At first, these cracks might have been an accident. But over time, potters learned to control them, making them a deliberate part of the design. Sometimes, the crackle effect on old pieces looks even stronger today. This can be because of natural changes over time or even because collectors have treated them.
Colors and Textures
Old records describe three main types of Guan ware based on their look:
- The best pieces had a grey-blue glaze on a thin body. They had wide crackle lines.
- Next, there were pieces with a greener glaze and denser, closer crackle lines.
- Finally, some pieces were almost a pale grey-brown. They had very dark, close crackle lines on a thicker, dark grey body.
Shapes and Designs
Most Guan ware pieces were shaped on a potter's wheel. However, molds and slab-building (making things from flat pieces of clay) were also used. Some shapes were inspired by ancient Chinese bronze objects or jade pieces. Bowls and dishes often had rims that were wavy or indented.
Copies and Imitations
Guan ware is one of the most copied types of Chinese pottery. People started making copies right away at many other kilns in the south. These included the kilns that made Longquan celadon.
Later, during the Yuan dynasty, copies began to be made from porcelain in Jingdezhen. People still make copies of Guan ware today. Sometimes, it can be very hard to tell if a piece is an original or a copy.
