The Legend of Thai Celadon
Behind this modern stoneware from Thailand is a story that goes back more than two thousand years in time. Celadon is known as the aristocratic Oriental ancestor of the pottery family and takes its name from the elegant glaze developed by the master potters of China to duplicate their beloved jade.This exquisitely glazed Celadon was known only to the Far East until the 9th century A.D. when a few pieces found their way to Europe to be displayed with the most priceless treasures on the continent.
Antique Celadon From Ad.1460
Later on, the stoneware that arrived in the Near East was credited with miraculous powers. In this ever turbulent part of the world where violence was a part of daily life, it was believed that poisoned food would change color when it was served on Celadon…and the demand was tremendous!
Although these costly high-fired pieces were sought after for several hundred years or so, they eventually were forced off the market by the cheap-to-produce earthenwares from the Middle East and the imitation porcelains from Europe. The great stoneware traditions of China began to die out…and by the 16th century, Celadon had become a rare and precious prize to the Europeans who traded directly with the Orient.
Long before this happened, however, a King of Siam visited China and brought back some 300 potters. Kilns were established and from them emerged the fabulous Siamese Celadons that were known as “ Sankaloke ” . For several generations large quantities of “Sankaloke “ were shipped to the Philippine islands, Borneo, India, Persia, and Egypt. But the kilns of Siam had to be abandoned, too…at about the time that the potters of China were destined to give up their craft. For some 600 years not a single piece of the famous Celadon stoneware was produced.
Until half a century ago this ancient art was revived in Thailand…with a duplication of the old, old methods using the same raw materials. All of the elements needed for this stoneware are from the earth and the jungles…and each piece is finished by hand making Thai Celadon a truly unique work of art.
Thai Celadon Process (1977)
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