Chinese art materials

Paper

Along with the compass, gunpowder, and printing, paper is considered to be one of ancient

China’s “Four Great Inventions”. According to archaeological evidence, paper was being

made from the first or second century BC. Cai Lun (ca. 50-121 AD), a Chinese court official

during the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), is generally regarded as the inventor of the

modern method of papermaking in 105 AD which led to a wider use of the new material for

writing. Paper was not used for documents and religious texts at first, and was only regularly

employed for painting from the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). Many types of paper were

developed for the different requirements of writing, painting and printing. The use of paper

spread from China through the Islamic world, and entered production in Europe in the early

twelfth century.

Silk

By the fifth century BC, documents had begun to be written on silk, which had existed in

China since Neolithic times, possibly as early as 6000 BC and definitely by 3000 BC. In July

2007, intricately woven and dyed silk textiles were discovered in a tomb in Jiangxi province

dating from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, roughly 2,500 years ago. Although silk was an

expensive material, a document written on a roll of silk was much easier to handle and store

as it was softer and lighter than other materials such as bamboo strips. It was also used as an

important material for the first surviving paintings and funerary banners in the second century.

With the invention of paper in the first century AD, silk was gradually replaced with the new

cheaper material. However, because of its texture and luster, silk is still considered as one of

the most popular materials in Chinese culture and art, especially Chinese textiles.

Bronze

The production of bronze vessels, weapons and other objects was already well developed by

the Shang dynasty (c. 1650-1027 BC), while ritual vessels, sets of bells for ritual use and

weapons were being made using sophisticated casting techniques by the Zhou dynasty (ca.

1027-221 BC). Examples of these are the highly ornate pieces excavated from the tomb of the

Marquis Yi of Zeng which include a set of bells with twelve notes to the octave for the

performance of ritual music. Ancient bronze vessels were treasured by collectors in the Song

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dynasty (960-1279) and were copied in ceramics and other materials for use in rituals and as

decorative objects. During the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, copies of

bronze vessels and those made from other materials were popularly used as altar pieces and

incense burners.

Jade

Jade was considered a precious material, and objects made from jade were designed for

special rituals and ceremonies rather than for everyday use. Since jade is believed to offer

strength and protection both in life and death, jade burial suits were thought to guard against

evil spirits and jade objects were regarded as symbols of virtue, strength and superiority. In

much earlier periods, the most distinctive jade objects, perhaps produced for specific

purposes relating to the rituals of death, were found in sites of the earlier and more southern

Liangzhu culture (c. 3300-2250 BC). Jade continued to be produced in various forms for use

as ritual objects in court ceremonies and as popular precious items for collectors in later

periods. Jade objects have generally become heavier and more colourful and ornate than the

ancient pieces produced in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

Lacquer

Lacquer has been used as early as the Neolithic period (5000-3000 BC), and the sap is

collected from a tree indigenous to China called rhus verniciflua. Lacquer is applied in layers

as an impermeable coating for objects made of materials such as bamboo and wood, making

them both water and insect resistant. It also provides an ideal surface for decorating objects

with brilliant colours. Pigments, in particular iron oxides, can be added to make the lacquer

red or black, and inlays of silver, gold and mother-of-pearl are also used. In addition, carving

techniques were used to create detailed decorative scenes in deep relief on lacquer objects.

During the Warring States period (475-221 BC) and the Han dynasty (206 BC- 220AD),

lacquer became increasingly popular, and was mostly used to provide painted surfaces for

coffins, cosmetic boxes, musical instruments and food vessels. In later periods various

techniques were developed to make lacquer ware more decorative, and it was increasingly

exported to the West during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

Porcelain stone

Porcelain stone is a type of high-quality clay, which comes from the abundant volcanic rock

found in deposits in the eastern coastal provinces of China and some parts of Jiangxi province.

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The highest-quality deposits are located in Jiangxi province around Jingdezhen and Boyang

Lake. Porcelain stone was used, unmixed, from the tenth century, and primary kaolin was

first added in the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), producing a smoother, more synthetic paste.

Underglaze painting was introduced in Jingdezhen around the same period, and indeed one of

the great advantages of adding kaolin was the better base it provided for painted ornaments.

From the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) to the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), porcelain styles such

as blue and white, doucai, and enamel decorated porcelain (famille rose and famille verte)

reached the height of perfection and were mass-produced for the Western export market.

Enamel

Enamel is a coloured glass, or a combination of vitreous glazes, fused on to a metallic surface.

Enamelling is the technique of painting in enamel on metal over a bronze, copper, or

sometimes a silver body, which is then coated with white enamel. The technique originated in

Europe and was introduced to the Chinese court by Jesuit missionaries at the end of the

seventeenth century. The intricate application of enamel can be found in the Chinese enamel

ware called Fa lang what is sometimes referred to as cloisonné in the West. The cloisonné

technique involves the application of different coloured enamels to a metal surface that has

been divided by wires into compartments known as cloisons, producing striking multi-

coloured patterns. These wires were either soldered or glued onto the metal base. The pieces

from the reign of the Qianlong emperor (1736-1735) are of particularly high quality. By the

Qing dynasty (1644-1911), enamel pieces were much lighter as both the base and wires were

made of copper rather than heavy bronze.

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