Page 136 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

Yuan Shikai’s imperial reign, the department set up to supervise the making of official

wares was also closed down.” 166 While the kilns may have stopped for a brief time,

Jingdezhen modernized in an effort to survive beyond imperial China. However, after

Yuan’s rule, no imperial porcelain was created. This point in time marks the rise of

private porcelain companies within China. Prior to this time, a few private kilns did

thrive within Jingdezhen, but they were considerably smaller compared to the level at

which imperial patronage occurred. However, after the Hongxian reign restrictions on

these kilns were loosened, allowing them more freedom in the types of porcelain they

could produce. Ironically, it is these private kilns that provide another piece of support

for the imperial quality of Hongxian porcelain. After imperial patronage ended, the

Jiangxi Porcelain Company (Jiangxi Ciye Gongsi 江西瓷業公司) took control of the

entire imperial kiln site. 167 The company took the best workers from the site in order to

continue producing the finest quality porcelain. Porcelain from Jiangxi was eggshell, one

of the most difficult types of porcelain to produce. Along with this technique, each

porcelain exhibited delicate enamel brushwork. 168 Based on these descriptions, it is clear

that the Jiangxi Porcelain Company was capable of producing high-caliber porcelain as a

direct result of scavenging the kiln site that had been maintained by the previous imperial

patron, Yuan Shikai. It is therefore necessary to consider the porcelain produced during

the Hongxian reign imperial quality, since the workers, materials, and artistry were

166 Jiangxi Light Industry Department, Ceramics Institue, Jingdezhen Taoci Shigao 景德鎮陶瓷
史稿 (Draft History of Jingdezhen) (Beijing: Sanlian shudian, 1959): 306.
167 The Jiangxi Porcelain Company was first founded in 1910. It began as a state-merchant
factory that was funded by provincial treasuries. The ultimate goal of the company’s creation
was to create an industrialized and mechanized production of porcelain.
168 Zhao Ruzhen, Gu wan zhi nan (Handbook of Chinese Antiquities), Peking, 1943, 9.

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