How to Be a Smart Collector Series:
Appraise and Appreciate of Imperial Ceramics in Qing Dynasty

Sunday
Feb 4, 2007
2 - 4 pm

Cost:  $40

Address:                    ITU  Classroom 1
756 San Aleso Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94085

Email: services@lingeasy.com

Imperial Ceramics in Qing Dynasty -- Shun Zhi to Kang Xi Period
The Qing rulers were avid patrons of the arts, which flourished in many forms during their reign. In 1677, the Kangxi emperor (reigned 1662-1722) rebuilt the imperial kilns and factories at Jingdezhen, which had been destroyed during the fighting that had led to the establishment of the dynasty, and in 1683 the production of imperial ceramics was resumed.

Inevitable, ceramics from this period are the most-loved among collectors and also wide-spread duplicated. . In this session, we will discuss how to separate the fakes from real gems based on historical background, aesthetic characteristics and porcelain techniques.

顺治—康熙时期的中国瓷器，从顺治时期的百废殆兴，到康熙中晚期的门类齐全，经历了一个巨大的飞跃，康熙时期的瓷器更成为收藏家们的宠儿。

满族推翻明朝将近三百年的统治取而代之以清朝，在当时是一场翻天覆地的变化，对于绝大多数的中国人来说，虽然对腐败和残酷的明朝政府已经失望到了极点，但对于在异族统治下偷生感到羞耻，特别是清朝初期采取“易服剃发”等一系列政策，证明这一担心不是没有道理的。许多文人拒绝加入仕途，宁可以绘画、制瓷为业，令清初的瓷器画面出现了前所未闻的文人气息；在清政府方面，经过了几十年的休养生息，消灭了南部的三蕃，国力强盛之后有了能力在景德镇设立一个为宫廷制造瓷器的御窑厂，政府每年拨款试验、开发新的产品和色彩，不仅恢复生产了明朝著名的品种的青花、釉里红、五彩等，而且还尝试复制宋瓷名品，可谓百花争艳。

最值得一提的是，康熙朝在紫禁城设置造办处，在耶稣会传教士的帮助下成功地烧制了瓷上珐瑯——即粉彩的前身，从此改变了中国陶瓷的整个面貌……。

由于康熙瓷器的各个品种具有很高的品质，为各代的收藏家手珍爱，因此仿制很多，本讲座将结合这一时期的工艺技术和历史文化背景，讲解其艺术特色和鉴定特征。

Sunday
Feb. 11 2007
2 - 4 pm

Cost:  $40

Address:                    ITU  Classroom 1
756 San Aleso Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94085

Email: services@lingeasy.com

Imperial Ceramics in Qing Dynasty -- Yong Zheng to Qian Long Period
The peak of Chinese ceramic production was seen in the reigns of Kang Xi (1662-1722). Yong Zheng (1723-1735) and Qian Long (1736-1796) of the Ching dynasty during which improvement was seen in almost all ceramic types, including the blue and white wares, polychrome wares, wucai wares, etc. The improved enamel glazes of early Ching dynasty being fired at a higher temperature also acquired a more brilliant look than those of the Ming dynasty.

Since ceramics from Yong Zheng and Qian Long period are so well-known and popular, there were replica since 19 century. It is a challenging work to identify a gems.

自康熙朝开始，清朝在紫禁城中设立造办处外，在景德镇设立御窑厂，为宫廷生产瓷器，这一传统延续到了光绪晚期，对中国陶瓷的发展影响巨大。而且康、雍、乾三朝皇帝因为对瓷器艺术很有兴趣，亲自选样、指导官窑瓷器的制作，大大地提高了瓷器艺术的品位。同时，御窑厂不断投资开发新产品，对景德镇瓷业来说犹如一个新产品研发中心，将中国瓷器推向一个颠蜂。景德镇瓷器在世界范围内拥有绝对的竞争力，大量出口至西方，甚至令西方王室因购买中国瓷器而频于破产……

雍正朝的瓷器以精致、典雅、造型讲究而著称于世，粉彩是在这一时期成熟和发展起来，雍正粉彩、雍正斗彩之精美可以说独步天下，起了承上而启下的作用；雍正青花虽然不及康熙青花的丰富，其中的淡描青花却也匠心独具。然而自雍正以后，陶瓷装饰的题材和主题开始收窄，康熙时期的百花齐放渐渐淡去，以后开始趋向于以花鸟为主.

乾隆朝的瓷器则气象万千，瓷器体型较大，装饰华美而繁杂，有不少的创新，比如“锦上添花”便是借用了西方的纹样、工艺复杂的转心瓶制作成功，单色釉也有上佳的表现；不过，乾隆当政长达六十年，经历了从极盛到衰相渐生的过程，表现在乾隆早中期瓷器的品质比较高，过渡到后期开始出现疲态，粗制滥造并不少见。近年来倍受专家和收藏家注目的，是一批以西方人物为主题的作品.

由于雍正和乾隆时期的瓷器声名远扬，十九世纪以来就开始被仿造，当代景德镇的仿造更是泛滥成灾，如何去伪存真是一件有趣而极具有挑战性的工作.

Sunday
Feb. 25 2007
2 - 4 pm

Cost:  $40

Address:                    ITU  Classroom 1
756 San Aleso Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94085

Email: services@lingeasy.com

Imperial Ceramics in Qing Dynasty -- Jia Qing to Xian Feng Period
Antique experts usually call the period reigned by Jia Qing and Dao Guang "Jia Dao", because the imperial ceramics under these two rulers share many similar characteristics, and are hard to tell the difference. In fact, from late Qian Long period to uprising of the "Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace" (during Xian Feng period), the ceramics are so similar that it takes lots of efforts to assess the age.

有些古董专家在鉴定这段时期的陶瓷时，时常将嘉庆——道光时期的瓷器统称为“嘉道”，因为嘉庆和道光两朝的瓷器共同之处很多，不易区分，便统而言之。事实上，自乾隆晚期一直到“太平天国起义”（即咸丰朝）时期的陶瓷，都可以找到许多的共同特征，而有待于仔细分析、鉴别。

Sunday
Mar. 4,  2007
2 - 4 pm

Cost:  $40

Address:                    ITU  Classroom 1
756 San Aleso Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94085

Email: services@lingeasy.com

Imperial Ceramics in Qing Dynasty -- Tong Zhi to Guang Xu Period
The Qing dynasty under Tong Zhi and Guang Xu is one of the weakest imperium historically. However, the country finally took a break from many internal turmoils like "Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace". The ceramics production and quality are acceptable during this time.

In the late Qing dynasty and when Qing was taken over by the Republic of China (about 1909-1915 AD), the disturbances resulted in the collapse of the official kilns. In their places, private kilns were established by the operators and artists who previously worked in the official kilns. With their expertise, they produced high quality porcelain wares, such as the excellent imitations of Sung, Yuan and Qing wares are made during "the early stage of the Republic of China," which were almost true to the originals.

同治和光绪皇帝所统治的清皇朝，是中国历史上最为软弱、无能的政府之一，但有历史学家却称这一时期为“同光中兴”，这里的“中兴” 所指的是国家从太平天国战争的废墟中的恢复和振兴。考虑到那样一个历史背景之下，这一时期的陶瓷生产的确有某些尚可的表现。