Lu Jinquan: Future prospects for the ceramic market

Today, Chinese porcelain is still highly favored and has always been the highlight of the auction market. The Ming Chenghua Chicken Crock Cup, which was auctioned for HK$280 million this spring, has once again created a sky-high price in ceramic auctions. While the ancient porcelain market continued to swell and advance, the market performance of contemporary ceramics was a bit bleak. For this situation, Lu Jingquan, the design art school of the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, said: “At present, there is no widespread influence. The overall price of the market is still very low. It should be said that the market price and artistic value of contemporary ceramics are not equal. In the ancient porcelain market Today, ceramics are high in price and they are hard to distinguish. Contemporary ceramics have been 'hidden' into the art investment collection market under the promotion of some eye-loving collectors. For collectors, it is better to change ceramics from a different perspective. The prospects for the future are worth looking forward to."

The past and present of ceramics

From the simple pottery in ancient times, the primitive porcelain in Shang and Zhou dynasty, to the celadon in Eastern Han Dynasty, Chinese ceramics finally entered a new era after a long period of time. This leap is not only a control of the roasting temperature, but also a huge improvement in the firing process. Although during the Six Dynasties, the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and the Five Dynasties had their own development, there was no doubt that the first peak of Chinese ceramics belonged to the Song Dynasty. In addition to the mature technology of burning porcelain, more and more different styles of famous kilns everywhere. Today, Chinese ceramics still create one after another artistic legend.

“Xinping sculpted pottery began in the Han Dynasty” and it was the past life of Jingdezhen. Xinping is known as Jingdezhen, also known as Changnan Town. From the Han Dynasty, the kiln fire never ceased. In the Tang Dynasty, celadon began firing, and white porcelain was burned during the Five Dynasties. The blue and white porcelain fired in the Song dynasty, "White as jade, thin as paper, as bright as a mirror, and as loud as a cymbal", was also the cause. In 1004 AD, it was given the title of Jingdezhen. During the Yuan Dynasty, Jingdezhen created blue and white glazes, glazed reds, and “Shufu” glazed porcelain. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, Jingdezhen became the porcelain capital of China.

"Craftsmen come to all directions, and the device has become the world to go." The prosperity of Jingdezhen was evident at the time. This uninterrupted kiln fire created a magnificent ceramic art and made Jingdezhen and even China famous overseas. At that time, Chinese porcelain was exported to overseas and was deeply sought after by European nobles and even became a symbol of wealth and status. For example, King Louis XIV of France built the Torriano Palace in the Palace of Versailles to display Chinese blue and white porcelain; the King of Poland Augustus II collected more than 20,000 pieces of porcelain and even exchanged Chinese celadon with guard cavalry, which can be described as Chinese porcelain. Avid enthusiasts.

The upsurge of Chinese porcelain collection has made the word China a pun for "China" and "porcelain." But its origins are divergent and unresolved, but various sources have made China's significance more colorful. "Civilization of English and Chinese" points out that the meaning of China as a porcelain originates from the Persian chini; the "Sanskrit Dictionary" points out that China originated from the ancient Sanskrit word "**"; others also think that there is a great relationship with silk; another saying puts forward that China The homonym from "Chang'an".

Regarding this, Lu Jinquan has different opinions. He told the Beijing Business Daily reporter that Jingdezhen has a river - Changjiang, Jingdezhen is south of Changjiang, and historically it is called "Changnan," so the porcelain fired here is Transliteration into "China" was later synonymous with Chinese porcelain and then extended to the concept of "China."

Why ceramic art is highly regarded

“The sky is clear and the sky is blue, and the colors are like the future.” This is the ideal celadon color in Zhou Shizong’s heart. Although no handed down articles have been found so far, this description is already refreshing, just like it’s raining and it’s mysterious. In the misty sky, the sun drips from the clouds and waited for only a touch of pure azure glaze. This is what it means.

In fact, Chinese people have a great relationship with the love of porcelain and jade worship. For instance, in the Southern Song Dynasty, Jiang Qi’s “Tao Ji” pointed out that “Jingdezhen Tao has more than 300 seats in the past. The device of the pipa is not white, and therefore it is nicknamed by him, and it is called “Raoyu”.” The green, blue and white porcelain is a kind of jade, quiet, elegant, and even a device. It is the pursuit of the United States by the people. This beauty is the beauty that the esthetician Zong Baihua puts forward: “The gorgeousness is extremely flat”.

In today's artistic context, how ceramic art has developed has become a proposition that all ceramic artists face. In Lu Jinquan's view, ceramic art as a carrier with profound cultural heritage is first and foremost a tradition, but also has contemporary experience in it. For specific works, we must first have a perfect model, unique, and the author's personality and charm, while maintaining the spirit of the times; Second, the decoration should be perfectly combined with the instrument type, and the decoration should reflect the author's understanding and comprehension; From the aspect of pure art, we should not lose the beauty of craftsmanship. This is the charm of ceramic art and it is also a distinguishing feature of Chinese painting and oil painting. The combination of style, decoration and craftsmanship can be regarded as a ceramic work that can represent the spirit of the times.

The ancient porcelain and the contemporary porcelain market are presented

According to incomplete statistics, during the 100 years of the 18th century, at least 60 million pieces of Chinese porcelain were sold in Europe, and Europe has been trying to crack down on China's porcelain making secrets. While they were struggling to find the secrets of porcelain manufacture, China had already completed this feat as early as 1,700 years ago. It was not until the 18th century that the missionary Yin Hongxu “undercover” in Jingdezhen for seven years before unveiling the Millennium mystery that plagued Europe.

Today, Chinese porcelain is still popular and has always been the highlight of the auction market. In the spring auction of 2014, the Ming Cheng Hua Doo Chicken Cup sold HK$280 million at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, and the Northern Song Dingyao took a 143 million Hong Kong dollar. However, this is not an example. The porcelain collection boom seems never to stop. In 2010, the Longevity of the Qing Dynasty Qianlong and the “Ice Life” long neck gourd bottle was sold at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong for HK$252 million; in the fall of 2013, the Ming Chenghua’s blue and white flower was wrapped in an okra grain bowl at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong. 141 million Hong Kong dollars were shot.

While the ancient porcelain market continued to swell and advance, the market performance of contemporary ceramics was a bit bleak. For this situation, Lu Jinquan expressed his approval. He pointed out that Gaogu porcelain has always been respected by the market, and the price is also a record high. Although contemporary ceramics have a certain history, it has not yet formed a wide range of influence. The current overall market price is still very low. The market price and artistic value of contemporary ceramics are not equal.

Even so, Lu Jinquan is still optimistic about the market prospects of contemporary ceramics. “The creation of ceramic art has gradually moved away from the traditional shackles to pure art, and more and more artists have joined the artistic team of ceramic arts. Ceramic art no longer appears as a traditional handicraft, but as a pure art. In forms such as the Venice Biennale, many contemporary artists are creating ceramics as their carrier, which further enhances the academic status of ceramic art in pure arts. At the same time, contemporary ceramic art has already been recognized by the collectors community. For creators and collectors, the future of contemporary ceramics is worth looking forward to,” said Lu Jinquan.