A school for a new industry
The Hunan Porcelain School was established in Liling, bringing education, experimentation and production together.
Liling, Hunan · China
Digital Ceramic Archive · 01—09
An archive beneath the surface
Under
EnterUnder
The Glaze
What you see is only the surface.
the archive↓
Beneath a transparent layer of glaze, colour, fire and handcraft become one.
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A New Colour
Language
Liling has a long ceramic tradition, but its modern underglaze polychrome language took shape in the early twentieth century. Colour was placed beneath a transparent glaze and made durable through high-temperature firing.
Five colours enter the kiln
Black, blue, red, brown and green high-temperature pigments established a new underglaze palette.
Recognition beyond Liling
Liling porcelain received major awards at exhibitions in China and abroad.
Revival and reinvention
Production returned with expanded pigments, improved firing and new visual languages.
National heritage
The firing craft was inscribed as national intangible cultural heritage.
From Earth
To Light
A finished piece appears effortless, yet every stage changes what the next stage can become. A small error in shaping, painting, glazing or firing can transform the final object.
Select
Local clay, glaze materials and mineral pigments are carefully chosen.
Refine
The material is cleaned, filtered and prepared for a fine white body.
Shape
The form is thrown, pressed or cast, then refined by hand.
Dry
Moisture leaves the body slowly to reduce cracking and distortion.
Bisque
The unglazed body is first fired at approximately 800°C.
Draw
The composition is painted directly onto the porous bisque surface.
Fill
Double outlines control pigment while water creates soft gradations.
Glaze
A transparent glaze is sprayed over the painted surface.
Fire
Heat fuses body, pigment and glaze into one luminous object.
Five Colours
Are Only The Beginning
Before firing, the pigments appear quiet and uncertain. Only the kiln reveals their final character.
Ink Black
Outline, structure and rhythm.
Mist Blue
Depth, distance and stillness.
Warm Red
Energy, flowers and celebration.
Earth Brown
Shadow, soil and transition.
Jade Green
Leaves, vines and living growth.
A clear layer changes everything
The Image Exists
The Image Exists
Beneath The Surface
The painting does not sit on top of the finished object. Transparent glaze seals it beneath a smooth surface and creates the water-like luminosity associated with Liling.
- 01Porcelain bodyThe white structure.
- 02Underglaze pigmentThe hand-painted image.
- 03Transparent glazeThe clear protective surface.
- 04LightColour, depth and reflection.
The moment of transformation
1380°C Heat changes the body, melts the glaze, reveals the colour and binds every layer together.Formed and dried.
The body becomes strong enough to receive painting and glaze.
The glaze begins to flow and the surface starts to close.
Pigment, glaze and porcelain approach their final unity.
The true colour appears only after the kiln falls silent.
Read The
Surface
Flowers, birds, fish and landscapes are not simply decoration. They carry ideas of season, character, harmony and renewal.
The Object
Index
Select an object to open its visual record. Each card expands without JavaScript.
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Build Your Own
Underglaze
Choose a palette to transform the atmosphere around the vessel. The interaction uses only HTML and CSS.
Choose a firing palette