- Celadon, a famous type of ancient Chinese stoneware came into being during the period of
the Five Dynasties (907 - 960). It is characterized by its simple but refined
shapes, jade-like glaze, solid substance with its distinctive style. For the celadonware
produced in Longquan County, Zhejiang Province is most valued and is why it is also called
Longquan qingci.
- Its Chinese name 'qingci', means "greenish procelain". Why then is it known in
the West as "celadon?"
- Celadon was the hero of the French writer Honore d'Urfe's romance L'Astree (1610), the
lover of the heroine Astree. He was presented as a young man in green and his dress became
all the rage in Europe. And it was just about this time that the Chinese qingci made its
debut in Paris and won acclaim. People compared its colour to Celadon's suit and started
to call the porcelain 'celadon' a name which has stayed and spread to other countries.
- Now, new products of Longquan qingci have been developed to radiate with fresh lustre
including eggshell china and underglazed painting.
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(Qingci)