Production of celadon
History of Celadon
During 1300-1500 A.D., Sukhothai – the capital of the
first Thai Kingdom – was the production center of the greenish-glazed
stoneware known as “Sangkhaloke” wares due to the mispronunciation
of Sawankhaloke – the name of an important production site of the
kingdom.
In general Westerners call this kind of ceramic “Celadon” after a
French term, but in fact Celadon originated in China whose products
have always been easily identified with Chinese characters at the
bottom of the vessels. But if a vessel bears Thai letters instead,
it was certainly made in Thailand.
Sukhothai was the center of the continual production of Celadon for
over 200 years as evidenced by hundreds of old kilns excavated at
Tambon Ban Ko Noi and Tambon Payang in Sawankhaloke. In addition,
fine specimens of Thai Celadon have also been found in different countries
along the ancient shipping trade route in that era such as Java, Sumatra,
Malacca, the Philippines, Japan.
At the end of Sukhothai period, the kingdom had been constantly weakened
by warfare against the invasions of neighboring kingdoms, which eventually
led to the southward-shifting of the capital to Ayutthaya, thus the
halt of Celadon production at Sukhothai.
During Ayutthaya period, around 1550-1750, a lot of porcelain was
imported from China for uses in Royal palace. These ceramic wares,
the product of Jiang-Xi Province, made of semi white kaolin clay,
consequently became more popular than Celadon among the Thais who
called them “Gungsai” or “Blue China”,. |
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In Chiang Mai, the low-fired earthenware or Terra Cotta,
like water containers, pots and vases, has originally long been produced
for daily life uses. Later on, in 1950, groups of Shan people migrating
from Shan State, Myanmar, founded several wood-fueled kilns near “Chang
Peuk” the city’s northern gate, making high-fired vessels glazed with
wood ashes. Their products, apparently destined for local markets,
such as pots for soaking sticky rice, flower pots, water pots for
cabinet stands etc., were all green glaze stoneware or Celadon.
Ever since Celadon wares in different forms have been developed to
meet all functional needs. And later, when some westerners have participated
in this beautiful craftsmanship by operating some celadon factories,
a more variety of designs has been produced, such as dinning sets,
vases, and decorative items. As a result, Celadon has become increasingly
popular, thus encouraging its further and various improvement. A number
of factories in Chiang Mai have become well known, and the majority
of them appreciatively maintain the traditional production method
with minimum mechanical devices, including using the ancient glaze
formula prepared with the ashes of Overcus belutina and Terminalialate
heyna.
As a result, Chiang Mai has been recognized as the home of the reestablishment
of traditionally-produced Celadon, and sustaining the beauty of Sukhothai
arts for over than 70 years.
Source: Miss Paichitr Uengsiriwat, Rajamanagala University of Technology
Lanna, February 2009 |
Production of Celadon
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STEP 1
Preparing the clay for the production of Celadon. The clay used in
the production of quality stoneware is rich topsoil or “din dum”,
sourced in Chiang Mai province, which is disintegrated, finely grounded
and sifted, to ensure that the final product is composed of high quality
clay.
STEP 2
The powdered clay from Step1 is then combined with water, to cleanse
the clay and remove any remaining debris, before being passed through
a pug mill to remove water, followed by compression into slabs of
purified clay.
STEP 3
After compression in the pug mill, the clay is exposed to open air
for a short while to allow organic matters in the clay to assemble.
STEP
4
The clay is finely kneaded to remove air bubbles.
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STEP 5
The clay continues to one of a variety of forming processes:
- Forming on the wheel.
- Forming by ‘jigger’ (rotating the clay under a foaming knife). |
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STEP 6
Allowing the product to dry naturally before being refined one more
time. |
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STEP 7
Ornate details are hand-carved into the refined product. |
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STEP 8
The following process is biscuit firing, where the products are fired
at a temperature of 800 degrees Celsius for 7-8 hours to achieve a
light-brown product that is known as “Biscuit”. |
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STEP 9
Inspecting the “biscuit” for fractures and other defects. If no additional
designs are to be added, the product is prepared to be glazed, otherwise
the product is then passed on to be painted and colored. |
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STEP 10
The product is coated with a glaze that has been prepared from rice
paddy top-soil and laurel ash, before being dried, and glazed again
to perfection and to eliminate air bubbles. |
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STEP 11
Fired at 1,260-1,300 degrees Celsius for 12 hours and left to cool
within the kiln for an additional 8-10 hours before the kiln is opened,
resulting in an impressive and distinct Celadon glazed product that
highly resembles jade. |
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