Ruby red porcelain

In the reign of Xuande (1426-1435) and Yongle of the Ming Dynasties (1368-1644), artisans in Jingdezhen create a kind of porcelain, which is as pure and gorgeous as ruby. People call it as "ruby red", "altar red", or "shiny red". Ruby red porcelain is produced by applying glaze materials which contain less than 1% copper oxide on green body, then firing it with 1300¡æ high temperature. This kind of Yongle red porcelain is of fine and light quality, red glaze of which is bright, even and smooth, and it is often decorated with cloud and dragon design.

Collected in Beijing Forbidden City Museum, the piece is made in official kiln of Jingdezhen City in the reign of Xuande (1426-1435) of the Ming Dynasty, 20cm in height, 16.1 cm in caliber. The ewer is ruby red porcelain, which imitates the form of ewer in the shape of monk's hat in the Yuan Dynasty. It has round belly, and binding neck. The color and luster is as charming as ruby.

Red glaze plate with veiled decorative dragon design

Now collected in Shanghai Museum, the piece is made in Jingdezhen kiln in the reign of Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, 3.5cm in height, 14.9cm in caliber, 8.9cm in foot diameter. It is ruby red porcelain in a shape of roundness, it has open top, shallow belly and flat bottom, and there is cloud and dragon design inside the plate. The color is as charming as ruby. Products colored like this piece are extremely few and rare. 

Tea Cup of Jizhou Kiln
Shiny blue glaze of unusual function