Carving can create more beautiful objects. Although now with the development of various machines, it has become so simple. In ancient times, although the carvings were rough, they were also exquisite at the time.
Porcelain carving is a special artistic method that combines painting and sculpture to express painting, calligraphy and other art forms on porcelain. It is to engrave paintings or text on unpainted white porcelain. Those engraved on utensils, such as plates, bowls, vases, tea sets, stationery, etc., also function as tools; those engraved on porcelain plates and paired with mahogany shelves are pure works of art.
Ceramic sculptures are three-dimensional works of art that are shaped from porcelain clay and then fired at high temperatures, referred to as porcelain sculptures. Porcelain carvings are the perfect combination of the "unity of man and nature" of the ceramic artist and the "natural craftsmanship" of the kiln fire. Porcelain carvings are different from all sculptures such as wood carvings, stone carvings, tooth carvings, bone carvings, shell carvings, root carvings, ice carvings, and lacquer carvings.
It must be fired at a high temperature of more than 1,300 degrees. In the process of changing from "clay" to "porcelain", the overall volume of the work will shrink by about 20%, and physical and chemical substances will be produced. Fundamental changes gave birth to a new material called "porcelain". After the baptism of high-temperature porcelain, its shape, color, volume, texture, etc. are all "reborn", which can be called "Phoenix Nirvana".
Therefore, as a three-dimensional space, the art of Chinese white porcelain carving is much more demanding than other processes such as painting, not only in terms of materials, creativity, modeling, craftsmanship, firing and environmental space, but also in terms of time and labor. . Porcelain carving is the greatest integration of multiple craftsmanship and human wisdom from scratch.
This is unmatched by other sculpture arts. Its finished product is elegant and permanent, which is also the main reason why it has always been loved by the broad masses of the people. Danner once called sculpture "the perfect art". In this way, in a sense, "China White" porcelain sculpture may be the "most perfect art".
In many writings about Dehua kilns, we often read about porcelain sculptures, carved porcelain, etc. In fact, these are the same concept. It is called "porcelain sculpture". I think it may be because the author looked up Cihai and thought that literally, "sculpture" is more accurate, because sculpture is subtraction, while sculpture is addition and has more ingredients. As a porcelain-producing area, we are still debating this concept. I think it is detrimental to the promotion and construction of regional brands.
Clay draft: This is a creative process. Before producing a work, the masters need to use their rich personal experience in porcelain sculpting to conduct research and exploration on the characters, animals, flowers and other themes they are shaping. , and then use your imagination to knead the shape by hand.
Grouting: The completed mud draft is made into an abrasive tool. Generally, the polished mud is filtered and dehydrated into a mud cake.
Forming: After pouring grout into the mold, take out the model for bonding, and use bonding mud of a certain consistency to connect the formed parts together.
Trimming: After bonding and forming, the green body is trimmed according to the proportion of the whole and the part to make the part more delicate.
Decoration: It is divided into carving decoration and color painting decoration, that is, making some decorations on the green body to make it more perfect.
Firing: The finished green body is heat treated, which means firing it in a wood kiln or electric kiln.