{"id":271,"date":"2022-01-18T17:30:08","date_gmt":"2022-01-18T16:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=11881"},"modified":"2022-01-18T17:59:13","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T16:59:13","slug":"discover-the-history-of-the-chinese-ginger-jar","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/discover-the-history-of-the-chinese-ginger-jar\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover the history of the Chinese ginger jar"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Katy Layton\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 18 January 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Picture a sitting room in a classic English stately home \u2013 you\u2019re likely to see two Chinese ginger jars flanking the fireplace, their beautiful blue-and-white<\/a> forms adding symmetry and elegance. But how and why did these evocatively Eastern pieces, with their ovoid forms, high shoulders and delicate detailing, become a staple feature of our traditional interiors scheme? The answer is in the quality\u2026<\/p>\n

\""19th\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A pair of 19th-century Chinese blue-and-white ginger jars \u00a0on wood stands from Kevin Page Oriental Art<\/a>.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

When were the first Chinese ginger jars made?<\/h2>\n

\u2018The earliest ginger jars as we know them date from the Ming period<\/a> (1368-1644), and they were made for exporting salt, spices, oil, and so on, to the West,\u2019 says BADA<\/a> dealer Kevin Page. The Europeans couldn\u2019t help but be impressed by these cargo containers \u2013 the jars were far more refined than any porcelain being produced in the West at the time. Through the 18th and 19th centuries, the jars became highly coveted as luxurious accessories for the home, not only for their fine quality, but also their aesthetic appeal. \u2018The variety of designs is wide but always very decorative,\u2019 says Kevin. \u2018You often see cherry blossoms, as well as figures, landscapes and animals.\u2019<\/p>\n

With such a range of patterns and colours (there are far more than just the classic blue and white) it\u2019s small wonder porcelain collectors and interiors enthusiasts alike rank these high-shouldered beauties greatly. And, with prices ranging from \u00a320 to \u00a3500,000 and beyond, there\u2019s an antique<\/a> jar to suit every budget and taste.<\/p>\n

Where in China are Chinese ginger jars made?<\/h2>\n

For many centuries, ginger jars were made on a vast scale to keep up with demand but, despite being \u2018mass produced\u2019, these were still handmade products of exceptional quality. Thrown by master potters and painted by skilled artists, the production process was\u00a0 <\/span>a testament to China\u2019s ancient porcelain traditions. One city famous for creating perhaps the finest export wares is Jingdezhen<\/a> in south-east China, which remains a mecca for ceramicists to this day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\""Painting\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A skilled artist decorating porcelain in Jingdezhen.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The city\u2019s porcelain heritage is thought to date back as far as the sixth century BC. By the time of the Ming dynasty<\/a>, when ginger jars were rising in popularity, this porcelain hub was producing wares for the government and the imperial household, as well as exporting to Europe on a scale never seen before. It is even thought that the English word \u2018china\u2019 comes from Western attempts to pronounce Jingdezhen\u2019s earlier name, Changnan.<\/p>\n

\""Adding\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
An artist adds detail to a large vase at a Jingdezhen ceramic museum.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

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