Bowl with ancient motifs

Single-Color Glazes

Single-color glazing is among the most intriguing techniques seen in Chinese ceramics, with each color formula having a rich cultural history and a name with complex associations. Produced in Jingdezhen, a city in southeastern China, single-color glazes dominated ceramic decoration during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties as part of the revival of ancient ceramics. Many colors of the Tang dynasty (618–907)—including white, black, yellow, and blue— continued to be used throughout the Ming, and new colors developed by Qing potters include pink, coral red, various shades of green, and “black bronze” or “mirror black.”