Lecture

Robert D. Mowry, retired Alan J. Dworsky Curator of Curator of Chinese Art at Harvard's Sackler Museum, presents a lecture entitled: "Seeing Red: Chinese Porcelains with Red Glazes and Porcelains with Underglaze Red Designs."
During the Yuan (1279–1368) and the beginning of the Ming (1368–1644) dynasties—Chinese potters experimented with copper-red glazes and with decoration painted in underglaze copper red, developing those wares alongside the better-known porcelains with cobalt-blue glazes. The blue-and-white and red-and-white wares reflect the taste for an expanding palette of colors. The use of copper presented two challenges - the tendency of copper red to "bleed" rather to hold and the need for these porcelains to be fired at exactly the right temperature to achieve the perfect color. By the mid-1400's Chinese potters had overcome both challenges but given the medium's difficulties potters of this time tended to avoid copper reds favoring instead decoration painted in colorful overglaze enamels. In the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Chinese potters revived interest in underglaze painting in copper red, finally achieving success in creating pieces whose painted designs boast perfect color, fine lines, and hard edges.
Sponsored by the Pottery and Porcelain Club. Free and open to the public.