This weekend I attended the 24th annual North Carolina Pottery Conference in nearby Asheboro, NC. The three day conference featured five Jingdezhen porcelain masters from Jingdezhen, China. Each master was trained in one pottery technique for years to earn their “master” status. The masters included a slab master, thrower, trimmer, underglazer and overglazer. In China there can be over 70 masters that help to created one piece of Jingdezhen pottery. We watched in amazement as the slab master created boxes and abstract art from large thick slabs he had rolled by hand. The master thrower threw the most beautiful collection of bowls, jars and vases. In China he throws about 3,000 pounds of clay per day which is the equivelant of 400 large bowls!!!
It was very interesting to learn about Jingdezhen formerly known as the “Porcelain Capital ” of China. People there began to produce pottery as early as the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220).
In preparation for the Beijing China 2008 Olympics porcelain Jingdezhen tubes were created to cover the lamp posts. Lamposts like the one shown here lined the streeets.
I am anxious to use some of the ideas from the conference in the creation of my Lace Pottery.
Have a wonderful week,
Maggie
http://www.lacepottery.com/
http://www.maggiescrochet.com/