An introduction to Ming blue and white porcelain | Curator's Corner S5 Ep6

The Ming Dynasty is famed for its blue and white porcelain, which took over European dinning tables thanks to trade with the Dutch, Portuguese and English. However, you might not know exactly how to tell the difference between a Hongwu and a Longqing piece. If you don't, never fear! Curator Jessica Harrison-Hall has you and the entire Ming Dynasty covered!
#CuratorsCorner #MingPorcelain #ChinaFromChina
Curator's Corner Playlist: • Hadrian and the Second...

[@BlackAdder665]

I may have mentioned this elsewhere, but there's an important thing I have learned in university: if you dive deeply enough into things, *everything* becomes interesting.

[@nunyabiznez6381]

I learned that at ten when I illegally explored the basement of my town's public library. Illegally because children were not permitted there. The Library was a big old Victorian Stone building on a hill. Really only employees and volunteers were permitted in the basement. Mom was a volunteered and I smuggled myself along side her and then snuck off to explore. I discovered the basement had a basement below it then catacombs which connected to the Town Hall, church and Post office. The deeper I went the more interesting it was. I know you meant it metaphorically but it is true physically. One of the more interesting things I found was an abandoned enormous ornate cast iron furnace/incinerator. It must have been ten feet tall and fifteen feet wide and also looked like you could cook on it. It had a huge door big enough to toss bodies into if one was so inclined and I hid while watching the janitor toss everything from old magazines to office furniture and old crates and logs into it along with general trash. The thing was ornate with flowers, seashells, figures of angels and fairies and gargoyles all cast in iron. It was the most gloriously bizarre hideously beautiful man made creation I had ever seen before or since. The other interesting thing was the labyrinth of tunnels that connected other buildings down in the catacombs. There was a sign warning not to enter due to the maze of tunnels but I was always good at mazes so that didn't stop me from exploring. Without my flashlight it would have been pitch black. Under the town hall I found the old jail. It was two levels down in the subbasement which was one level above the tunnels. There were old rusty shackles and other paraphernalia hanging from the walls. Under the church there were tons of statues and of all things funeral related stuff. Then in one tunnel there was a set of stairs leading up that had a sign pointing up that said "Crypt ->" Imagine being ten and in a dark tunnel with a flashlight and finding a set of ornate Victorian cast iron stairs leading up and reading a sign pointing up to where the crypt was. Imagine being ten and knowing what a crypt is. Imagine being ten and knowing you were UNDER where the bodies were buried. This was about 50 years ago.

[@BlackAdder665]

@@nunyabiznez6381 Wohow! Thank you very much for this amazing story/memory! It was a marvellous read. :-)

[@jenniferschmitzer299]

@@nunyabiznez6381 A chap after my own heart ❤️ I'm a bit of a noseyparker myself so if I was in your situation, i would be right into it too.❤️

[@nunyabiznez6381]

@@jenniferschmitzer299 I'd have made a very good burglar.

[@justanothercaptain6566]

Thank you for this! This is the strength of the Curators Corner. I would have walked past something like this and not given it a single thought. Thank you for telling their "story"

[@emilyche1101]

There is only one problem in this video: Lady speaks in really low volume but music in between segments is really loud. Other than that i enjoyed hearing what she had to say.

[@colinfew6570]

She has an almost ASMR quality and then the music blares in between.

[@MHChrono]

+ I totally agree, normalize the volume a bit and it would be much better. I had to turn it up to hear her voice, then the music was too loud.

[@Callumsmith9898]

Aye. Not to jump on the “the music is terrible” bandwagon, but this is a problem throughout so many informative and wonderful educational YT series. Play something of the period! Let me hear ancient Chinese instruments while we learn about their art. Video as an audio-visual medium is really not being used to it’s fullest effects here. Other than that we all love these so much in my Art History classes -Curator’s Corner is my favourite museum series.

[@CullenCraft]

And there are 6 pieces on the table, but we only hear about 5 of them.

[@convinth]

@@panchulo12 And your country is innocent of all wrongdoings?

[@JohnR84]

Chinese Porcelain changed European Dining, bringing light reflecting dishes to tables that previously had, dark wood, clay & Pewter dishes. This video enhances knowledge on the value of lighting design, and why consultants need to be involved in restaurant table design and settings layout.

[@Whoiskevinjones]

I studied in London in 1985. I would take a detour to class by walking through the King's Library en route to the British Museum's collection of Ming Dynasty ceramics. I did this almost daily. I didn't know anything about the collection, but I figured if I looked at the colors long enough, it would enhance my sensitivity to mastery. I believe my exercise at "appreciation without context" benefitted me greatly.

[@mookyuleun]

The history of how each piece was acquired by the British Museum would add so much to the story

[@sunmadien]

She has an amazing voice. I could listen to her talk on and on. Really enjoyed this video. More from this curator please.

[@johnnyforeigner33]

Marvellous! I would love to see more from this Curator, she has such a lovely way of describing and talking about the objects!

[@suecox2308]

How beautiful these vessels are and the history you shared make them even more beautiful. Thank you!

[@cassiuscyparissus5567]

Please more on chinese artefacts! This episode feels like a breath of fresh air ^^

[@fellow8085]

@@ericlao1935 I think most of the west has a pretty good general idea of korea vs china. Its just people would rather it be korean culture ever since the cultural revolution and all the crimes against humanity committed by the ccp. The chinese governments attempts at sharing Chinese culture with the world appears to people like hitler trying to claim Germans descend from romans and not saxons. Which is really a shame because China has had a beautiful history and culture that more people should know about. They just need a trustworthy source.

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

(the generally low quality of their products today. .. it has become difficult if not impossible to find a can openner in the usa made in the usa. and an imbecile stole mine i had to buy a made in china one. it opened One Can, i placed it on the counter and It Jumped Totally Apart... incredible

[@oxnyxws]

Really appreciate this but I am disappointed she didn't cover the last item on the table.

[@tompearce6312]

Yeah! Maybe you can go to the museum and find out about that one

[@RichMitch]

Music is gonna give someone a heart attack 1

[@BarbaraMerryGeng]

Dear British Museum , Thank you for a brilliant & concise presentation. 🌸

[@brucefrizzell4221]

Very beautiful pieces and great explanation. I would like to see a longer video on this subject.

[@donbachmeier7617]

Really enjoyed this presentation. Just enough detail to inspire looking into the subject. With context being as important as the item itself.

[@shadowraith1]

An amazing reflection of the history of art during the Ming Dynasty. Thank you.

[@johnshoosmith]

This is an area of art I know nothing about and greatly appreciate this studious explanation of several pieces. The presenter's audio is the only thing that I thought a distraction. The shipwreck piece at the end was quite well described

[@llchapman1234]

I love these Curator Corner videos. Nicely done.

[@chineseexportceramicporcel2635]

Beautiful porcelains and kind sharing of knowledge. Thank you

[@RensoTamseArt]

Amazing art and so helpfull when someone with extensive knowledge can help with telling the story behind these beautifull pieces

[@RoseThistleArtworks]

This is wonderful how you have an expert come on and show us the pieces and explain so much about them. I love this so much. If only we could get the Vatican to do something similar with all its stored treasures, that would be so interesting. I hope you talk with them and tell them how well received this is for preserving the history and sharing these pieces with us. ;)

[@simone222]

Enjoyed this a lot as a student of Sinology. Thank you. 💛

[@lassmirandadennsiewillja2235]

Chinese characters for the terms would have been a good addition.

[@intarc0giotto]

@@lassmirandadennsiewillja2235 well I think that the vocabulary would be already available as a Chinese beginner. Bowl, plate, teapot, vase/bottle, big, bright, dynasty.

[@lassmirandadennsiewillja2235]

@@intarc0giotto i know i could grab the dictionary, i just meant it would have been a nice addition. i was thinking of the names of historical periods, and perhaps about the specific terms for certain bowls etc. Gernet has a nice list of terms in the index of his history book, sorry i'm not at home to look up the title, it's sth like "the Chinese world"

[@intarc0giotto]

@@lassmirandadennsiewillja2235 Well the fact is we always think that there a hundreds of special terms I Chinese but it is usually much simpler. Ping is bottle but can also mean vase. If you want to be specific that you mean vase you could also say huaping which means flower vase.

[@intarc0giotto]

@@lassmirandadennsiewillja2235 and for the dyasties it is the same. Something dai. Ming dynasty=Ming dai 明代， A good dictionary for your phone is pleco. There you can find everything

[@hoolydooly5799]

Just georgeous and Thank you for this beautifully presented segment. I have watched this many times BTW

[@natashasemrau3670]

I love Blue and White pottery. It is so peaceful. Such a deep blue color in the frist piece you have showed us. Such lovely pieces.

[@natashasemrau3670]

Thank you for Highlighting my comment. I love Curator's Corner! Hope you do more videos.💮🌼🌻🏵🌸🌸🌺🌺🌷🌹💐💐🌹🌷🌺🌺🌸🏵🌻🌼💮💮💮🌼🌻🏵🌸🌺🌺🌷🌷🌹💐🌹🌷🌸🏵🌻💮💮💮🌼🌼

[@bohtanaali8644]

I have few blue n white Ming

[@bohtanaali8644]

Have few blue and white for sale

[@Pagzzz]

Another great Curator’s Corner episode! I found you guys via Reddit recently and have been really enjoying your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@davidnimmo9933]

Thank you This has been amazing to learn about these beautiful pieces and when they were made. I have never been to the British Museum but I hope to go one day so this is so good to see please keep up the good work

[@StefanMilo]

Such fantastic craftsmanship

[@imogenx9145]

Super interesting! Especially the last piece

[@2Sugarbears]

I truly loved this video. Thanks.

[@williamhk1847]

Fantastic video! The Sir Percival David Collection is just about my favourite room in the British Museum, can spend hours there.

[@kgraham5820]

Stunningly beautiful. I'm always amazed at the skill level & craftsmanship of makers of objects such as these... and also stoneworkers, like folks that made headstones or built those grand, majestic churches. Thank you for sharing not only these "beauties" but also your knowledge on the subject.

[@laurengaskell2098]

Thank you for this beautiful video!

[@jasf1728]

Very nice interesting introduction, I can really appreciate the value and beauty of these right now thanks to you.

[@thomaszaccone3960]

Beautiful and fascinating

[@helenangus1675]

I have really enjoyed this program learnt so much loved all the pieces especially the box.

[@HistoricHomePlans]

Videos like this are a real treasure.

[@olofneppelberg2896]

Great video! Would love to see more videos like this about chinese porcelain and comparisons between the different periods, especially the Yuan and Ming dynasties!

[@user-vu6hu2in7p]

Thanks for the beautiful sharing.

[@giaatta9303]

I loved this documentary. Sincere thanks to such an intelligent lady!

[@yoinkhaha]

That pitcher or decanter or whatever is stunning, really beautiful.

[@petersmith5398]

Thank you. A fascinating explanation of some amazing objects. Well done.

[@daviddemar8749]

I don't give a bleep about ming vases but the videos from curator's corner are so good that I had to watch this Addendum-it was totally worth it. Among other things I learned why the color cobalt has its name

[@davidhoggan5376]

Love this channel!! Thanks for the great information :)

[@nunyabiznes4471]

Lovely video! Thank you for the explanations of these fine porcelain pieces! ❤❤❤❤

[@Weesperbuurt]

Great information!

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Very interesting video. I look forward to more videos on Ming porcelain.

[@jonas1015119]

I didnt know just how much Ming porcelain mirrored metalwork of the period, I just mostly knew of similar examples in prehistoric archaeology

[@mbdajani]

Hello there actually I want to to ask you uh I have to twin verses and the distant vases are in the blue and green can love they are very very old and our house 0 before the 100 years the drawing her for this life of shand actually a everything to and and and and and and inside is beautiful And I wondered in for an export to tell me what are they and the how much how much there is it it

[@susprime7018]

Super porcelain tour, thank you.

[@PeterCombs]

Well done, excellent. Thank you...

[@barokat8318]

This video is useful to add to our insights. We as chinese ceramic collectors are delighted to see it and i have a lots . Thanks so much

[@catoelder4696]

Fascinating

[@mikiberge6427]

Very interesting and informative, thank you.

[@teresat5496]

That was extraordinary.

[@davidbrogan606]

I wish we had gotten to the fifth piece, the dragon bowl.

[@DeeDeeCatMom]

Perhaps it was a repro or a forgery...fits their story line for the episode.

[@johnbellus9117]

Fantastic video!

[@vasantavalencia7829]

Шикарная экспозиция. Спасибо. А плавный метод повествования вызывает уважение.

[@jocelynholmquist7544]

So interesting really enjoyed you talk..thank you

[@rhijulbec1]

I do SO love these moments! 💖 Informative, interesting, well narrated (I could listen to her voice for days!) and in a shorter format, leaving us looking for more! Jenn in Canada 🇨🇦

[@susanhepburn6040]

Very interesting - thank you very much.

[@Paeoniarosa]

It would be fascinating if this wonderful curator could do a video on how pieces have made it intact through time, both generally and regarding specific ones if possible.

[@zhiqiyeoh8375]

Piece for emperor: art graduate's work Piece for export: child's doodle

[@daveroberts6884]

Piece for the peasantry a very young child's work. Heavy body, almost stoneware in weight with quickly executed brush strokes.

[@qingting9paul224]

Excellent video 👍👍👍👍

[@RealSalica]

There are not enough videos about porcelain , please continue to make some ...please.

[@RIXRADvidz]

the sculpted flower and leaves, that'll be what to look for when swoopin' the charity shoppes and junque stores

[@gobnaitaine2791]

I like her nail varnish... Nice shade of red to compliment the blue and white of the ceramics.

[@MoYvStarkey]

I love the scholar's body posture and sense of anticipation. His image is distinct. He's looking forward to this visit. Is it for the food? I believe he is excited about the books.

[@hubertk7363]

beautiful

[@zhubajie6940]

I suppose I always enjoyed the celadons of the Song over the Ming perhaps because that Blue and White Ware is so ubiquitous in the west to seem almost vulgar while Ru ware and Guan ware are simple but sublime. Also, I like the Jian ware with their beautiful glazes of "hare's fur", "oil-spot" and "partridge feather" patterns. Hope you can do something on all those traditions.

[@bohtanaali8644]

I have few nice celadons

[@bohtanaali8644]

I keep few celadons n blue white ming

[@Sunshine-zm1fx]

These curator's corners are absolutely amazing. I look forward to every single video.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Wonderful.

[@myriamickx7969]

What amazes me is how these items, fragile porcelain, have travelled through space and time retaining their beauty.

[@Darleer]

I love this series. The content, the delivery, etc. I'm slightly perplexed over the choice of music though. First of all the change in volume is quite sudden as someone else has mentioned. Secondly, it seems like a good time to use some Chinese period music that helps to heighten the immersion as well as introduce more people to this aspect of Chinese culture. I'm not so educated on music but what was used seems to be western

[@antoinedesfeirs9210]

Quite exquisite indeed

[@davegehman6581]

Wonderful to see the greyed blue of this blue-and-white. Makers of modern pieces are stuck with modern refined cobalt, missing the manganese and iron "contaminants" that turn the otherwise brash blue into something nuanced and soft. The same for the white, very slightly "contaminated" with iron or copper and thus of an extremely subtle color that beggars description.

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

If it was required, ANY alloy or ore could be analysed and replicated. With powder-sintering processes, you can refine your output so specifically the unit of measuring is millionths of a gram. Modern Engineers are NOT stuck, ever. Our abilities so far exceed the ancients' that the degree has escaped your notice.

[@BryanCheong]

The panelling on the dish meant for export really reminds me of Arita wares, even though it's Chinese blue-and-white porcelain.

[@MiaHessMusic]

Really interesting! I know nothing about this stuff. Thank you!

[@coreygrua3271]

DelightFULL!

[@stanley2903]

I really enjoy this whole British Museum series.

[@aaishahhassain8100]

I absolutely love blue/ white china

[@Molop87]

Lovely

[@jamesh1017]

At ts 09:00 reg the unglazed rim of the square box with interior partitioned into four glazed compartments. How might they have achieved the unglazed rim surrounded by painting under glazed which survived the heat of furnace. Thank you.

[@hadesolympus6069]

one piece of Ming plate or any other antiques from another side of the the world could tell you the histories of your own societies. that's fascinating

[@theceramicrepairstudio]

Loved the video. Aliso ' The China Repair Studio. ❤

[@kunokunotv]

Amazing

[@benwilson6145]

Thank you

[@MicaRayan]

8:28 Gorgeous boxcase

[@5chr4pn3ll]

Very cool :)

[@hqi1321]

I never stopped to think about how your dinner ware might affect the furnishings surrounding it. And, considering Europeans were using lead glazes, using blue and white might've softened the blow of all those hazardous materials they had in their homes. Thank you for the insight!

[@billyhendrix5544]

That box is mint. I want one

[@jivory6888]

very fine indeed

[@jessicamorales2555]

awesome

[@ionacmitchell]

1:09 that nail polish colour is amazing against the blue and white !

[@nealbeard1]

Jessicas' choice of nail colour is pretty impressive as well.

[@jivory6888]

a beautiful day

[@intarc0giotto]

I would love something about song dynasty ceramics. I just love Celadon ware. And also the others of the song dynasty. (Autocorrect wrote dog dynasty...just how? Lol)

[@bohtanaali8644]

I have few celadons sir

[@arnulfoesguerra4795]

You missed the really golden age of Ming Blue and White,that of the Hsuan Te/Xuande period, 1426-35 which had the palace porcelain known as “Kuan Yao”, especially the Stem Cups.

[@differous01]

The light on the glaze makes the first pattern look paler than it really is; points where the cobalt bled through the glaze look dark under the light, but where in shade [2:14] the whole design appears darker. When the shadow passes it goes pale again.

[@aek12]

Amazing, I think all the world cultures are in the same museum. It just shows everyone has their own way of perceiving the reality but they are all related to the idea of beauty which to common to all human beings on earth. The bad part is that it was forcefully taken from different cultures. They should've been donated. It is a good site to learn about the earth history.

[@j.lietka9406]

Hi Ms Jessica 💕❤️ a recent sunken ship discovery revealed a whole load of what I believe (in the report) Ming China. Will the British Museum (s) be getting any pieces for display? Thank you 🌹❤️ Think the ship was off the coast of China

[@yuncollection]

goooooooood