JOIN USAny art & crafts buff who travels to Taipei (Taiwan’s capital) and Nantou County will be astounded by the variety of porcelain wares on sale at luxury as well as local handicraft stores.
About half an hour by train from central Taipei, the New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum displays the ceramic culture of the country. The other attraction here is the Yingge Old Street, where many shops, along either side of the street, offer all kinds of ceramic art.
The making of porcelain wares is rooted in Chinese history, known to have flourished during the Yuan reign (1206-1368). The making of blue and white porcelain, popular as Qinghua porcelain, began in 14th century at Jingdezhen, still nicknamed ‘the porcelain capital of China’.
There, the Jingdezhen Ceramics Museum has one of the world’s best collections of ancient porcelain — the Yuan, Ming, and Qing porcelains are regarded as national treasures.
Qinghua wares, made using sophisticated kilning technologies, have paintings influenced by Chinese culture and traditions on them, a representation of artistic elegance. The blue colour is contrived using cobalt.
The art eventually reached Taiwan. The porcelain-making in Taiwan, however, is around 300 years old. The suitable clay is produced in the Peitou and Nanshihchioa areas of Taipei. In the Yingke Chen area of Taipei County, the concentration of porcelain kilns increased during the beginning of late 19th century.
Now, it is a major porcelain-producing area of Northern Taiwan. There are nearly 1,000 families of craftsmen in New Taipei engaged in this profession.
Once a kiln is established, it can run for a century with good maintenance. The art of preparing clay, glazing and heating, which are more traditional, are passed on from one generation to another. The designs, the glazing techniques and the decorative patterns involved in this art are unique to the place where the porcelain is manufactured.
The craftsmen of Taiwan, who keep abreast of technology, incorporate both the modern and the traditional.
Decorative wall plates, flower vases and coasters crafted from porcelain are some of the fast-selling items here. And, porcelain wares that flaunt motifs of dragon and fish are common. That’s because they are considered as elements of good luck.
The coasters cost NT$ 150 (Rs 310 approximately) each, while wall plates are priced at NT$ 990 onwards (Rs 2,000 approximately).