Porcelain for Emperors

"Porcelain for Emperors"
1993
12 minutes
Made for the exhibition Joined Colors: Decoration and Meaning in Chinese Porcelain at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.
Sada Planning, Inc.; School of Cinema-Television and Center for Visual Anthropology, University of Southern California; Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Editorial support from EditDroid Syetem/LucasArt Entertainment Company. Additional funding from the Tianminlou Foundation.
"Porcelain for Emperors" introduces traditional porcelain production in the city of Jingdezhen, China, where ceramic vessels were made to imperial order for more than 500 years. Viewers can see Jingdezhen specialists preparing the clay body, transforming it into vessel shapes, glazing and decorating, and firing the last wood-burning kiln still operating in Jingdezhen.

[@PhilJonesIII]

Nice refreshing presentation. Proves again that subjects can be interesting and hold peoples' attention without suspenseful music and fake drama. Hate to think of what the History Channel or National Geographic would do with this today.

[@Aleph-Noll]

+Philip Jones they'll try to make pottery "extreme" and "wild" and maybe throw in some aliens and or hillbillies for extra impact

[@Lurker1979]

And over use of animated graphics.

[@herenkapsalon]

no time for television, I work 10 hours a day in the office behind my pc, than eat, bed, get up and start over again.

[@dingliedangliedoodle9261]

They would dress a child up in green tunic and let him start throwing pots around.

[@uhuhyup5328]

Very true. But it's not them, they're just adapting/pandering to the badass mean street rock and roller wannabe audiences of today. So refreshing to see the lack of pomp and drama. You got that right.

[@mn4169]

This was lovely and intriguing to watch 40 years after it was produced and filmed.

[@denysephenix2349]

the chinese people art to be admired for all the beautiful and lasting treasures they made. To own a piece of these beautiful artefacts is to own the soul of China. So magnificient.

[@Twinhit]

Imagine working so hard on some of those Imperial china works, only to be smashed like that. Hours and hours of work shattered. I heard that during the dynasties, not sure which one, that they would not only smash a failed piece, but bury them also. The practice illustrates how strict the Imperial standards were and how hard the potters, the artists, and the writers had to work. An incredibly brutal blow to the artisans to have their work smashed like that, no doubt. Nevertheless, the Emperor's standards were such that ultimately, Chinese porcelain would go on to be highly desirable items, shipped in the merchant vessels of the Dutch East India Company to the European markets and would go on to inspire Europeans to develop their own refined ceramic ware.

[@celloyang]

it is a common practise for pottery artisits in Korea anf Japan as well. failed ones are smashed to reveal the high standard not only requested from the Emperor also from the artists themselves.

[@TempleofBrendaSong]

Twinhit of course

[@suryatjandra7120]

It is still pratice today by the artists themselves to smash their own fail products. They require good quality.

[@leonwagner2687]

Polish Porcelain Group "Pasja Porcelana" facebook.com/groups/748521691972585

[@iwin1023]

That’s what makes them so valuable if they are found today

[@MrYougotcaught]

Wow. Just watching this whole traditional method kind of time travel to see what was it like in Ancient China. Thanks for this

[@DilbeardAlbeard]

I agree with you, I've watched many documentaries of ancient china and really is interested in seeing how life was back then in Ancient China.

[@masterkoi29]

Porcelain was a long history in China since the Han dynasty. The blue white color porcelain was made from the Ming dynasty as every emperor's has different designs.

[@rodorataboada5577]

Beautiful! I've always found Chinese Art so delicate and fascinating. I hope to visit this place in the future!

[@TC-lp8jx]

That's nice, I am also studying a lot about Chinese arts. I know it is hard and complicated, but I love it.

[@mbdajani]

The rose family of kylon introduce the porcelain to their kingdoms.They draw in it part of there life there dreams there army from 250 years old .The coloured show the class of the public. The most of vases broken in the first and second world war .what is left is very expensive

[@artcheeze]

Thank you. Wonderful video. 3:57 : "kaolin" is that same name of that very mountain. We lost the "ng" in English because it came through France. Charmingly, the word went around the world two directions to meet up with itself in Japan, which uses both the word "kaolin" from English, written in katakana, and "kouryudou" (clay from Kaoling) directly from Chinese, written in kanji, but with Japanese pronunciation.

[@cardogsink]

Congratulations Freer/Sackler. Uploads like this put us all in grave danger of actually learning something important.

[@chrisq3107]

Such a lovely film!

[@Renwoxing13]

7:54 Oil replaced wood way back then. Now wood has made a comeback and replaced all fuels. The change, both times, was for the same reason. Cost !

[@Renwoxing13]

10:04 Was the pigment worse back then. Was it the old video tech making the colors looks worse. Was it a combination of both factors ?¿?

[@manzoorathar11]

And my heart broke when she broke the porcelain. I mean seriously you can sell at cheaper rate to me.

[@kevinhayes6933]

ManOfTruth piadoso I agree with you, but it's pride in their work, which I respect

[@mandocool]

Damn fascinating stuff, one day in going to China to buy a lonely specimen.

[@占佳炜]

+Armando Alcala well come to my hometown LOL

[@deepswim3126]

Using this as a shadowing material for interpreting practices. Very good film, allowing me to understand the basic procedures of making porcelain. Love it, simple but intriguing

[@flyingluky]

A very well shot video indeed, but there is a fact wrong. JDZ has started supplying the empire nice porcelains for over 1500 years, while some historians argues it should be even longer. In 1004, the city got its name, 'Jing de', from the Emperor Zhenzong's regnal period's name, since he admire the porcelains from JDZ so much. So it is not what the video said, for 500 years.

[@Phlegethon]

Finally have an answer! Came here from those stupid how it's made videos that didn't actually show you how it's made.

[@godschild3640]

His name is Jesus Christ, but no other name shall you be saved there are no gods on the Earth. No people better than Jesus Christ was only one god he’s up in heaven.

[@DucaTech]

One of the stuff that the Brits fought over during opium war

[@PhilJonesIII]

+dhg1234 When they refused to buy our opium you mean.

[@DucaTech]

+Philip Jones Well, the Brits were big consumers of tea which China produced an abundance of. The Chinese wanted to be paid in silver, which England at that time ran very low on because of the large consumption of tea from the East but also sugar from the West Indies. The East India Company on behalf of Her Majesty offered firearms and other goods made in UK for tea originally because they also ran low on silver. The Qing government were arrogant SOBs and wanted nothing of British-made goods. In the end, the East India Company found a way to exploit on the local's addiction for opium, which was produced in one of Her Majesty's colonies, aka India. And the rest is history.

[@PhilJonesIII]

+dhg1234 And now no one wants goods produced in China even when they are made by Western companies that relocated there. The British were equally at home with arrogance. ( Still are ).

[@deepsah662]

British fight for other people's property. kind of animalistic but animals don't take What they don't need. All the indigenous cultures around the world destroyed,trust betrayed, Overpowered , Subjugated Mostly by british. Their so called ' Queen' is the biggest welfare dependent. Dont know why in this day and age of intelligence they still need and feed a 'queen', i mean this isnt middle ages. Chinese were very right to limit british presence to a single port. Other countries trusted them to do just business only to be betrayed by them.

[@doodscollection]

Every piece is a work of art. Amazing!

[@chrisw5353]

Wow that's amazing work! Even I'm Chinese, went the city before too, but never see their work side .

[@teresiateresia114]

Hiro saga merriedd pu jie for hagemony of japan country there is nothing.

[@rolmaguiland21]

An now in 2022 what do they do everting BEAUTFULL🤩😘😍

[@worldpicking7977]

Great Video! (Jesimiel Millar Fernåndez) 1M1K414

[@jimsmith4468]

Wonderful film on Chinese Art and history ✅👌

[@teresiateresia114]

Fine china becoming japan china this what japan want??????

[@teresiateresia114]

For hagemony japan emperor.there is love non sense u never love pu jie

[@anonymousanonimity6718]

no wonder why the ones still exists are among the most expensive

[@jcnessi]

Wow, What a wonderful art.

[@teresiateresia114]

Interesting may be i should learn more?

[@josedln3040]

Smashed 😢

[@HoughtonAncestors]

Excellent video! The Sackler Gallery is amazing in Washington, DC. I have spent hundreds of hours there studying and admiring their vast collection. Thanks for posting this wonderful video!

[@gardenvarietypenis]

i'vs spent thousands of hours ogling the ugly security guards; i didn't even notice the artwork.

[@RicardoFelippa47]

VIVA CHINA!!!!!!!!from Australia

[@Palaeogeobicho]

thanks for this great upload!

[@teresiateresia114]

I will make you do not know what is love

[@ps603]

Got to love how the Chinese save their old ways.

[@Michael37476]

1981 is crazy goddamn

[@TheJohnRowley]

Hard to believe this was only 30 years ago. I wonder if any of that survives - I imagine the mine entrance has gone, the city is totally different, machinery to automate certain parts of the process - maybe a robot spray gun to apply the glaze?

[@Erichjr45]

very nice video thanks.

[@conscience-commenter]

Where is the full video for this ?

[@teresiateresia114]

It very make sense?

[@raymondquadros7142]

I wonder who was the main person to actually discover or invent Porcelain, or the process. Lovely video anyway.

[@teresiateresia114]

😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈

[@RS-bn9rx]

Superb.. no conflict, no aggravation, just an expression of the human condition

[@MichaelChengSanJose]

Even those brand new pieces made in the video are now 42 years old, some heirlooms. Amazing.

[@占佳炜]

Good video ! Appreciate it as a Jingdezhen citizen

[@sckuaicdk]

+占佳炜 how much do they cost?

[@占佳炜]

+tellyourmom gotohell it depends，but much cheaper than it in US. Vary from bucks to thousands depends on the type and quality in China

[@jessuh7500]

beautiful

[@jengasias]

The atomizer for the glaze was impressive. It's so simple yet very effective.

[@zhpottery]

Thank you for the upload. I appreciate the video very much. Bet wishes from Los Angeles

[@yaechan4717]

Wow

[@kenhtruyenmagiatruyentanno1452]

Bạn nào có nhu cầu mua đồ cổ đồ gốm liên hệ mình nha ☎

[@LionCome]

what is the shape of the vase on the video presentation picture? Thanks

[@alexwelch1742]

Beautiful program!

[@Tocsin-Bang]

Absolutely superb video, loved it.

[@elisasteinmetz6140]

Very nice! Thank you.

[@indirasatya105]

Very informative video

[@dodyabimanyoe4735]

beauty is pain...😥

[@storylava9603]

awesome video san

[@Mfl.8580]

Hermoso teabajo

[@champauk1358]

Great skill

[@massimosquecco203]

Loved it.

[@matthewthomas8432]

Thank you

[@arielestevan5336]

beautifull

[@nhekborin]

nice vid

[@silviah2302]

amazing!!..

[@bv36]

SUPER

[@johnymcmememan2151]

I love it!

[@new_ddr_vlogs...7618]

💎

[@margieborbon5861]

interesting video. i would love to travel jingdezhen to buy these artwork to where it was originated. i love porcelain.

[@namelesswarrior4760]

The Smithsonian National Museum and The British Museum of STOLEN ARTEFACTS AND ANTIQUITIES are the greatest indeed!