=D= “Factory” (艺术瓷厂) Chinese People’s Republic of China (PROC) Porcelains and their correlates

In the period 1955 to the 1970s a series of interesting porcelains were made in Jingdezhen bearing this STYLE of basemark

HANDWRITTEN MARK   

STAMPED MARK

They read “Zhong Guo Jingdezhen Zhi  =D=” and have a distinctive bracket (called a straw hat by the chinese reserachers) at the top. Originally these marks were handwritten and placed on special porcelains. Into the 1960s and 1970s all examples with this style of mark were stamped and were factory made daily use wares. At the time of writing this report I have recorded the following letters, all in red except for the rare =K=, which is always in overglaze blue:

• =C=
• =D=
• =G=
• =H=
• =I=
• =J=
• =K= only in overglaze blue
• =N=
• =O=
• =Q=
• =R=
• =V=
• =W=
• =Y=
• =ZI= (could read =2乙 or even Z1)

There are also basemarks with =numbers= but only 2 numbers so far, and they appear to be exclusively late 1970s….

• =23=
• =42=

Now, according to the records (outlined in this article https://www.sohu.com/a/315485012_99943302), several other letters were used as well, all corresponding to particular Jingdezhen state-run factories, as shown below:

 “In October 1964, when each porcelain factory opened the “Jingdezhen, China” base section, the mark codes for the base section of the top 10 state-owned porcelain factories in Jingdezhen were as follows:

• =A= Red Star Porcelain Factory 红星瓷厂
• =B= Universe Porcelain Factory 宇宙瓷厂
• =C= Weimin Porcelain Factory 为民瓷厂
• =D= Art Porcelain Factory 艺术瓷厂
• =E= Jianguo Porcelain Factory 建国瓷厂
• =F= People Porcelain Factory 人民瓷厂
• =G= Hongqi Porcelain Factory 红旗瓷厂
• =H= Guangming Porcelain Factory 光明瓷厂
• =I= Dongfeng Porcelain Factory 东风瓷厂
• =J= Jingxing Porcelain Factory 景兴瓷厂
• =K= Xinhua Porcelain Factory 新华瓷厂 was separated from Xinping Porcelain Factory, and its code name was K.
• =L= Hongguang Porcelain Factory 红光瓷厂
• =M= Sculpture Porcelain Factory 雕塑瓷厂
• =P= Shuguang Porcelain Factory 曙光瓷厂

The 14 porcelain factories mentioned above were regarded as the “Top Ten Porcelain Factory” in Jingdezhen at that time……In addition,

• =N= Xinguang Porcelain Factory 新光瓷厂 was the city’s ceramic painting factory at that time
• =O= Ceramic Processing department 陶瓷加工

There are also those that use X as the mark code, but it is not clear why the unit uses it.”

 From the same source as above – “In January 1976, abandoned the printed lantern style, printed straw hat style and “China Jingdezhen” seal script square style.” That is, this 1976 date appears to be the latest date for these lettered and top-bracketed marks.

So we have a fairly good dating of these stamped marks – from around 1964 to 1976.

I cannot at this stage explain the discrepancies between the two sets of letters. My records have no examples of the A,B,E,F, nor the L,M or P letters. But I do have examples of several letters which are not mentioned, and for which I can find no information on – these are the Q, R, V, W, Y, and ZI letters! The examples will be shown below.

Many but not all of the handwritten =D= marks are seemingly made before 1966 – i.e. they are Jianguo porcelains (1949-1966) rather than Cultural Revolution pieces: http://www.360doc.com/content/18/0811/22/32854081_777548629.shtml

In this report I will show examples of the HANDWRITTEN =D= marks followed by the STAMPED =D= marks and then examples of all the other stamped letter marks.

HANDWRITTEN =D= porcelain examples

At this stage I am not sure which ‘factory’ or manufacturer produced these handwritten =D= examples and it could have been more than one.

Handwritten marks are found on very different porcelains to the stamped ones. Usually they are beautifully painted vases and brushpots, sometimes dated, and sometimes signed by the artist. They correlate well with the typical decorations found on the Ceramic Institute and Art School pieces of the late 1950s to mid 1970s. They are rare, usually found only in books and museums. Only the =D= marks are handwritten, all the others are stamped. All the examples from the ‘Innovations & Creations’ book are from the Jingdezhen Ceramic Museum and Art Museum or the Chinese University of Hong Kong collections.

This brushpot, from the book ‘Innovations & Creations’ is dated Bing Shen, 1956 and signed by the artist, Wang Yijun (1904-1989). The mark is handwritten. Beautifully painted in the style of the Republic period Literati artists with birds, flowers and rocks.

This vase is also from the book Innovations & Creations, dated 1960-1965 and carries a seal mark ‘Xue Ji’. Handwritten mark, 20cmH.

Another vase from the Innovation & creations’ book, same handwritten mark and dated mid 1960s-mid 1970s, 24.5cmH. The symmetrical sun and sunflower design, representing Mao Zedong and his followers is typical for the Cultural Revolution period.

This vase, from the same book above, is also dated to the Cultural Revolution period 1966-1976. A hawker is selling the ‘Selected Works of Mao Zedong’. Handwritten mark, 45.9cmH.

This vase is from the book ‘Century Retrospect, Zeng’s Collection of Jingdezhen Porcelain during 20th Century’, and shows another classic Cultural Revolution scene of children sharing food, and the written words of Mao Zedong. Handwritten mark, 35.5cmH.

This bowl was sold by Sotheby’s Paris in 2013 and shows a range of beautifully painted peonies with a rich iron red and gilt border. Handwritten mark, 23.4cmD. Strangely, it was labelled Hongxian mark & period, which it is not.

Part of a Dutch private collection this vase was acquired in the 1970s. It is dated in the inscription to 1968. Note the different calligraphic style of the handwritten mark, but considered to be part of this grouping nonetheless. 31.5cmH.

This small vase, 12cmH, is from a San Diego estate, showing a bird and blossoms. Not yet authenticated.

This bowl with another handwritten mark, is considered pre-1966 in the article – ‘Jingdezhen Jianguo Porcelain Factory’ https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%99%AF%E5%BE%B7%E9%95%87%E5%BB%BA%E5%9B%BD%E7%93%B7%E5%8E%82

From the same source as above, but showing definite Cultural Revolution decoration on the teapot. Handwritten mark.

STAMPED =D= factory porcelain examples

=D= Art Porcelain Factory 艺术瓷厂

The stamped =D= porcelains are for the most part entirely different from their handwritten counterparts. The great majority are daily use wares: bowls, jars, dishes and plates. However, they are consistently well made, and there are a few examples with designs unique to much factory porcelain. I believe most of them date to Cultural Revolution period of the PROC – mid 1960s to mid 1970s – and  would be the most easily available porcelain examples for this interesting time period.

It would appear that the stamped =D= factory porcelains, as opposed to the handwritten ones, were first made around 1964 https://bbs.artron.net/thread-4785033-1-4.html

However, another source suggests that the =D= ‘Art Porcelain Factory’ was established in 1958. Not sure when the photo of it below was taken: https://www.sohu.com/a/282063908_210889

Photos of all of these factories mentioned below can be found at the link above.

You will see below many familiar Bao Xiang Hua, Wan Shou Wu Jiang decorations. Also many carmine, and other colour, graviata grounds with landscape cartouche, plus black ground millefleur, and  few select landscapes with black filigree borders. However, there are also a few ‘surprise’ patterns which I find with these marks only. I will label these ones with a star *. They are shown in the order they were put into the watersilkdragon database. There are overwhelmingly more =D= factory examples relative to the other letters and numbers – this may be an artefact of my interest!

*  Note the soviet style industrial buildings in this landscapes. No more pagodas!

*  Whilst graviata/sgrafitto dragons are quite common, this floral pattern is rare

*  This bajixiang (Buddhist emblems) pattern has been used since the lateC18th. Similar bowls to this were made in 1940s with ‘Ya Wan Zhen Cang’ overglaze blue mark, and were completely handpainted. This =D= factory example has stamped borders.

*  This large serving bowl and the plate below show a detailed landscape and have a purchase receipt for 1972

*  These plates appear to be unique to the =D= factory

*  This gold ground millefleur is another unique expression of the pattern, only seen on =D= factory examples. I have seem a whole teaset with this pattern

*  Again, note the factory in the landscape, perhaps Jingdezhen and the Art Porcelain Factory itself!

*  Tiger amongst the grasses, rare decoration

* This and below another gold ground millefleur, but a more standard rendition for the time

STAMPED =C= factory porcelain example

=C= Weimin Porcelain Factory 为民瓷厂

STAMPED =G= factory porcelain examples

=G= Hongqi Porcelain Factory 红旗瓷厂

STAMPED =H= factory porcelain examples

=H= Guangming Porcelain Factory 光明瓷厂

STAMPED =I= factory porcelain examples

=I= Dongfeng Porcelain Factory 东风瓷厂

STAMPED =J= factory porcelain example

=J= Jingxing Porcelain Factory 景兴瓷厂

STAMPED =K= factory porcelain examples

=K= Xinhua Porcelain Factory 新华瓷厂

These =K= stamped examples are unique in that they are all stamped with an overglaze blue mark instead of red. They are very finely painted. The first is from the ‘Innovations and Creations, A Retrospect of 20^th Century Porcelain from Jingdezhen’ book:

Dated to the mid 1960s- mid 1970s, with images referring to the Cultural Revolution and quotations in the style of Mao Zedong. The mark appears to be stamped, 35.5cmD.

* This seal paste box, with vermillion ink still inside, is simply but meticulously painted

* This example, too, is much better painted than most factory goods

STAMPED =N= factory porcelain examples

=N= Xinguang Porcelain Factory 新光瓷厂

* This particular pattern and others similar below are a departure from ordinary factory goods. The arabesques are notably new for this period

* Another example of well executed arabesques

* Another unique pattern, so far, to the =N= factory, with butterflies and chrysanthemums alternating with precious objects in cartouche. There is a bowl example below.

*  A rare lotus arabesque pattern

STAMPED =O= factory porcelain example

=O= Ceramic Processing department 陶瓷加工

* A very large and detailed pink sunflower

STAMPED =Q= factory porcelain examples

I can find no information yet of the name of this factory in Chinese

*  This black ground millefleur is not a conventional one and is quite well and carefully painted

*  Another black ground millefleur, very richly painted in detail. I believe that the millefleur painting from this factory is generally the highest quality found in mass produced PROC porcelains

STAMPED =R= factory porcelain examples

I can find no information yet of the name of this factory in Chinese

*  This yellow ground Wan Shou Wu Jiang teaset is much more detailed and well enamelled than its ubiquitous 1980s and later counterparts

STAMPED =V= factory porcelain examples

I can find no information yet of the name of this factory in Chinese

STAMPED =W= factory porcelain example

I can find no information yet of the name of this factory in Chinese

STAMPED =Y= factory porcelain examples

I can find no information yet of the name of this factory in Chinese

STAMPED =ZI= factory porcelain examples

I can find no information yet of the name of this factory in Chinese

*  The mark on this charger looks more like a ‘2’ and a ‘ 乙’(Yi) ?

STAMPED =23= factory porcelain examples

My impression is that these numbered series are a little later – 1970s

STAMPED =42= factory porcelain examples

My impression is that these numbered series are a little later – 1970s

I think these marks and their porcelains are interesting. We have enough historical information to identify many of the factories from which they came and the 10-15 year time range in which they were made. It is even more satisfying to see the higher end ‘art’ pieces which either preceded them or were made by specialists in the same factory at the same time!

Best wishes, Michaela Russell, Sydney, Australia

Bibliography:

• Innovations and Creations, A Retrospect of 20^th Century Porcelain from Jingdezhen 2004  ISBN 962-7101-69-9  Jingdezhen Ceramic Museum and Art Museum & The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Century Retrospect, Zeng’s Collection of Jingdezhen Porcelain during 20^th Century 2003 ISBN 7-80178-089-2 eds. Zeng Meifang & Zeng Chengyu    Hua Ling Press