The origins of imperial yellow glazed porcelain in the Ming Dynasty (1,368 to 1,644) China: Technical comparison to low‐fired tile with yellow glaze

• Published in: Archaeometry 2022-02, Vol.64 (1), p.59-70
• Main Authors: Hou, Jia Yu, Li, He, Kang, Bao Qiang, Wood, Nigel, Wang, Guang Yao, Jiang, Jian Xin, Wang, Zhe Yu, Zou, Fu An
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Archaeology; Ceramics; Glaze colour; glazed tile; imperial yellow‐glazed porcelain; Lead; lead glaze; Pigments; Porcelain; Tiles
• ISSN: 0003-813X; 1475-4754
• DOI: 10.1111/arcm.12692

The imperial yellow‐glazed porcelain of the Ming Dynasty originated in the early15th century AD. Its high status and fine material quality make its beginnings, glaze characteristics and technological development worthy of further study. In this research, EDXRF, optical microscope and spectrophotometer were used to investigate both yellow‐glazed tiles and imperial porcelains of the early Ming Dynasty. It was found that the imperial yellow glaze is essentially similar to that used on glazed tile, both of which are high‐lead, low‐temperature compositions. However, there is a clear high‐temperature glaze between the coloured glaze and the body paste of imperial yellow‐glazed porcelain, which makes the glaze brighter and provides a warm jade‐like texture. In addition, the slightly bluish tones of the clear glaze and body paste of imperial yellow‐glazed porcelain correct the colour of the iron‐based, low‐temperature lead glaze, which has a reddish component. Therefore, compared with the early Ming Dynasty glazed tiles, imperial yellow‐glazed porcelain achieves a higher glaze brightness and a purer yellow hue. In summary, imperial yellow‐glazed porcelain can be seen as a combination of lead‐glazed tile and Jingdezhen porcelain technology in the early Ming Dynasty.