Chinese Pottery Facts
Although most ancient civilizations created and used some type of pottery, pottery was actually invented around 7900 BC in China. Pottery that dates back to the Neolithic age has been found in the drainage zones of the Chang-Jiang and Yellow Rivers.
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Hand Molded
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The first pieces of ancient Chinese pottery were not very durable because rather than being fired, they were hand molded or pressed into molds and then dried in the sun
Improvements
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After developing the hand molded pottery, ancient Chinese developed two improved methods in the creation of pottery. They developed the throw-clay method and also learned to fire clay pottery in the ground at temperatures up to 1100 degrees. Both methods made pottery more durable.
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Kaolin
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Kaolin, a rare white clay, began being used in the creation of Chinese pottery early on during the Shang and Yin Dynasties. Kaolin is only found a few places in the world, including China.
Porcelain
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Porcelain, which is simply a type of refined white-clay pottery, was first produced during the Tang Dynasty. Due to its origin, it became known as "china" during the Ming Dynasty as it was being exported to Japan and Europe.
Colors
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Copper red and cobalt blue were the first two colors used in Chinese pottery. Over time, the use of colored glaze that was applied after the initial firing resulted in endless color and design possibilities.
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