bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

additionalInfoBoxes

quizIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Q My grandmother has  a collection of Shiwan pottery and figurines that she says were bought right after  the second world war. Are they worth anything?

WHAT THE EXPERT SAYS

Shiwan pottery - produced in Shiwan in Guangdong -  has a long and respected history, says Anita Wong,  a curator at the University of Hong Kong's Museum and Art Gallery.  'Archaeological finds of ancient kilns can be dated to the Tang dynasty [618-907]. Production in the Song dynasty [960-1279] was on a much larger scale, and glaze colours included black, brownish yellow and white. An office was established in Foshan to facilitate export of ceramics. Shiwan then became the major centre of ceramic production in the Yuan dynasty [1271-1368].

'Shiwan products include utensils for daily use, artistic vessels, architectural ceramics, handicrafts and burial wares.'

Shiwan tiles were considered the best in the world during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).  'Shiwan ware reached its peak in the Qing dynasty [1644-1911] with 107 kilns in Shiwan, employing 60,000 workers,' says Wong.

GLAZED OVER

Shiwan figurines have a unique look. 'Their faces have detailed expressions. And the facial  and flesh areas of figurines are always left unglazed to create  a more lifelike quality,'  says Wong.

The figurines'  'porcelain complexion' was made possible by natural materials found  in the Shiwan area.

'What we call 'biscuit clay' was used for  moulding the heads, limbs and parts of the body to resemble skin colour,' says Wong. 'The sand found  in Shiwan is golden-yellow in colour, but  it turns white  after firing.

'Also, the presence of feldspar [white or off-white crystals formed by minerals in rock formations] helps the porcelain clay stand a higher firing temperature, and gives it a translucent quality. This clay is high in iron oxide and is actually 20 to 23 per cent aluminium.'

Shiwan pieces are also characterised by the large variety of glazes and colours used. According to Wong, the ingredients of these glazes 'were kept secret just like medicinal recipes'. Glaze materials included Longjiang stone, jade, star cinnabar, mercury, tin, pure glass, copper from 'gold flower leaf' and rock surface powder.

NEW COLLECTOR TIPS

Due to its proximity to Shiwan, Hong Kong has been a major market for Shiwan ceramics since the late Qing dynasty. 'However, works before the mid-1950s are rare,' says Wong.

In recent years, small numbers of Shiwan pieces have been found along Cat Street and in some department stores, though many of these are new replicas. Wong advises  buying  from dealers or at auction. The best known is an annual Shiwan auction held in Foshan.

'Since Shiwan ware was originally made for the common people, not royalty, it is relatively cheap when compared with other kinds of antique Chinese ceramics. In the past, most families had at least one or two Shiwan pieces in their homes or collections.

'Fakes of Shiwan ceramics are rarely seen. An experienced collector will look at the glaze and lustre, the biscuit and known features.'

Apart from scientific testing,  Wong recommends judging a piece based on size, condition, expression, uniqueness, rarity and theme. You can also check  for a seal mark.

'The price for a piece with the potter's mark is closely related to how famous that particular artist was, whether it is an original piece, and whether it is handmade,' Wong says.

Pricing varies greatly. 'Some old items, say less than 100 years, are inexpensive and can be under $1,000,' she says.  'Some pieces by current master potters are more expensive than old masters because they are more reliable.'

Even antique pieces more than 100 years old can be had for $20,000, though those with recognised signatures and seals  go for more. A top piece by an important artist can go for hundreds of thousands. For example, a new piece  by the master potter Liu Zemian was sold for more than $375,000 during the auction last October in Foshan, Wong says.

RESOURCES

Gathering of Earthly Gods: Shiwan Wares from the Collections of the International Shiwan Ceramics Association Exhibition, University Museum and Art Gallery, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam. Inquiries: 2241 5500  or go to www.hku.hk/hkumag. Ends Mar 20.

The International Shiwan Ceramics Association, www.shiwanart.com.

Suggested reading: Shiwan Ceramics: Beauty,  Colour, and Passion by  Fredrikke S Scollard, et al (about $567; Amazon.com).



ExpertAdvice