Celadon, the pinnacle of glory in the history of Chinese ceramics, and Plums Green is the finest of celadons. How many are enchanted by that lustrous verdure?
On scorching summer days, tea is most appropriate. Prepare a set of Plums Green celadon tea wares. Just one glance brings a sense of coolness.
The Plums Green celadon evokes memories of green plums hanging from branches on rainy early summer days at first sight. This fresh and elegant aura easily stirs memories of youth.
Green glaze is the earliest colored glaze in China. The yellowish-green glaze of proto-porcelain during the Shang and Zhou dynasties marked the early stage of green glaze. By the Han dynasty, pure green glazed porcelain had been produced. By the Tang Dynasty, it reached perfection and was acclaimed as “the verdure of a thousand peaks.”
Plums Green, the finest of celadons; and celadon, the pinnacle of glory in Ceramic history. The Plums Green glaze has a gray base tone, with hues of green and Blue, the glaze layer is thick like congealed fat, and the glaze surface is lustrous and clear. Its beauty cannot be fully appreciated at first glance, and its charm is indescribable.
The exquisite Plums Green, delicate as ice and translucent like jade, uniform and elegant, is truly a secret color. The song “Blue and White Porcelain,” imbued with the rich Song dynasty rhythm, has entranced many. However, in front of the pure green porcelain, the white-and-blue painted porcelain seems overly straightforward and rigid. Plums Green is graceful and refined, subtle yet calm, the longer you gaze at it, the more tranquil you feel.
Plums Green was first created in the Longquan Kiln during the Southern Song dynasty. Its color rivals that of jade and resembles the hue of green plums, hence its name. Plums Green is the most classic and rare glaze of the Southern Song Longquan kiln, representing the pinnacle of beauty in both celadon color and quality. Along with Powdery Green, it is hailed as “the pinnacle of celadon color and quality.” The production of Plums Green glaze requires high-quality porcelain bodies. Lime-alkali glazes, which do not flow easily at high temperatures, are used to apply multiple layers of glaze to increase thickness. It is fired at a temperature between 1250–1280 degrees Celsius under strong reduction atmosphere, resulting in a thick and transparent glaze, a lustrous surface, and a verdant color akin to jade. The Plums Green variety was only produced during the Southern Song dynasty, with very few surviving pieces, mostly in antique bronze and jade ware shapes, making them exceedingly precious.
“When the Yue kilns open in the autumn breeze, they bring forth the verdure of a thousand peaks.” Plums Green not only aligns with the ancient aesthetic preference for green but also highlights the clarity of nature. Due to the high firing temperature, the glaze is clear and transparent, with a verdant color like jade.
As the saying goes, “The plums are green, their color like fresh plums on the branch, verdant and emerald, lustrous and translucent.” Plums Green is not only recognized as the peak of celadon glaze colors but also signifies an advancement in Longquan kiln porcelain-making techniques, embodying rich aesthetic connotations.