The modern Weimin Porcelain factory in Jingdezhen.
Photo: © Jan-Erik Nilsson, 1992
By Jan-Erik Nilsson
The city of Jingdezhen started its career as a major ceramic center about one thousand years ago. The demand for light and resonant ceramics was growing and Jingdezhen was ideally situated with wood, water, clays, skill and labor abundant and nearby.
From this city alone comes the vast majority of all porcelain pieces in the world.
This is also the single place where all Chinese Imperial porcelain was made during the Yüan, Ming and Qing dynasties. From this city also, came the about 20 million pieces of porcelain that was imported to Sweden by the Swedish East India Company (1731-1813).
Today the yearly output of porcelain pieces reaches the unbelievably figure of 1 million pieces a day.
Text & Photos © Jan-Erik Nilsson, 1991, 1992, 2012
During 1991 and 1992 I had the privilege to visit the city of Jingdezhen and its surroundings as a participant in a small research delegation consisiting of Professor Bo Gyllensvärd, former head and founder of The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm, two of the curators of Ulricehamn Museum of Oriental Art and the Carl Kempe Collection, and myself. All pictures illustrating this article are taken by me during those visits.