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Re: Re: No is not ruyao
Posted By: Cal
Posted Date: Sep 18, 2009 (12:38 AM)
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You say "Since it is made of clay with a glaze coating, I presume it must be porcelain. If it is not porcelain, what do you suggest it to be."

There are many kinds of ceramic (clay or clay-like substances, fired in a kiln to some degree of hardness or vitrification) that may or may not be glazed (in several types of ways).

Porcelain is a compound of kaolin and a 'clay' composed of weathered granite particles. When fired to a high enough temperature in the right kiln conditions the result is a translucent white, waterproof product. In the West it came to be called 'hard paste' porcelain to distinguish from other ceramics composed of other materials and combinations of materials (such quartz and other siliceous materials, bone ash), made by potters in England, France and USA in 18 and 19 century.

In the West more distinction is made between 'stoneware' (not translucent, made of differing materials from porcelain, though very often white in color after firing) and porcelain, than is made in Chinese terminology. Some ceramics hard to define as one or another, such as Ding ware, which is often translucent to very strong light, yet is not made of same combination materials as porcelain.

Many types ceramics, stoneware, earthenware (fired lower temperatures, not as hard, not water proof) made in world including China in past and present.

Some experts believe there are about 26 examples of true Ruyao in world today, others think maybe 100 or so. This ware with beautiful blue-green glaze imitated countless times and ways in past 1000 years. Many collectors want to own genuine one, classification can be influenced by one's desire.

Web site of Shanghai Museum show example. Are many articles about Ruyao, do web search.

Book by Wang Qing-zheng, Fan Dong-qing and Zhou Li-li, /The Discovery of Ru Kiln/ (1991) give good survey of known shapes, glaze, types crackle.

Factors my opinion include your piece's shape and that where stilts were in firing is orange color not white. Your photos too poor to say if possible to classify your vase as what-is. Many modern ceramics cannot be classified as ancient type of ceramic since ingredients of ware and glaze different from ancient times.

Good luck,
Cal

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