Porcelain, also called Chinese ceramics, is one of humanity's most ancient inventions. The stories behind this unique and exquisite material are fascinating, detailing how it made its way across the globe and gave the modern world the word "china". Follow the stories told by a well-known Chinese porcelain expert to learn more about these timeless masterpieces borne from the creativity of ancient China.
Latest episodes
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9 min
Episode 8: Challenges for Chinese porcelain
Despite China inventing porcelain and dominating worldwide production and trade for centuries, from the 19th century, due to the Western world's industrialization, the entire Chine…
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8 min
Episode 7: The 72 processes of making porcelain
Traditionally, there are 72 steps involved in the making of one Chinese porcelain piece. Other traditional crafts, like weaving, blacksmithing or carpentry, usually take place in a…
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10 min
Episode 6: The rise of European porcelain producers
Even though porcelain originated in China, only a few commercial brands were created there. Despite being 1,000 years behind, the European porcelain industry was soon developing it…
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8 min
Episode 5: Imari ware and a story lost in the mists of time
Imari is a style of porcelain named after the Japanese port from which it was shipped to the West. At around the same period, the Chinese porcelain industry suddenly reached its pe…
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9 min
Episode 4: Kraak ware and its European influence
Kraak ware has been popular in Europe for hundreds of years. However, it was not made in Europe but in China. To find out why this chinaware has a fancy Western name and how it loo…
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10 min
Episode 3: The story of blue and white porcelain
In Chinese pop singer Jay Chou's famous song "Blue and White Porcelain", he mistakenly suggests that the colors are a "light sky blue". In this episode, we find the truth about blu…
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17 min
Episode 2: Chinese porcelain: a history of thousands of years
Jingdezhen is known as China's porcelain capital because it has been producing Chinese ceramics for more than 1,000 years. How did the small town get its name and why is porcelain…
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8 min
Episode 1: A story told from porcelain fragments
One day in June 2005, Chinese fishermen found several pieces of ancient porcelain while out working on their boat. What information was found from these porcelain fragments and why…