Western and Chinese Categorization of Antique China
Antique china categories used in the west for Chinese porcelain are different from those used by the Chinese.
Age-wise separating porcelain by 19th, 18th, 17th century, etc. is basically a western classification that is not widely used by Chinese. Those who do use it , are frequently regulars at international auctions or international ceramics forums.
The other categorization that was introduced by Europeans is the grouping into color families (e.g. famille rose, famille jaune, famille verte). Most Chinese probably have no idea what these are for.
Chinese categorization is done in either of two ways, there was not really any classification according to color, originally.
Age-wise the reign and/or dynasty name is used.
As for the type, Porcelain is divided into monochrome and polychrome porcelain types. The multicolored porcelain is then subdivided by the type of decoration. No further difference is made by color family.
Multicolored (polychrome) Porcelain
Chinese
Type
Definition
青花
Blue and white
Underglaze blue decoration on white ground. This was the first type of color decoration.
五彩
Wucai
"Wucai" meaning "five colors", this an early color decoration with a limited number of colors. Wucai is an on-glaze decoration in strong colors (also know as hard decoration). It was developed in Jingdezhen based on the on-glaze color decorations of the Song and Yuan dynasties. The second firing done at low temperatures of 770°-800°C.
鬥彩
Doucai
There is underglaze decoration in blue and and an overglaze decoration of other colors
粉彩
Fencai
A painting style using lighter colors on the glaze
金彩
Jincai
An all gilt decoration painted on the glaze. The second firing done at a low temperature of 700°-850°C.
墨彩
Mocai
Encre-de-Chine decoration, rare in non-export porcelain.
琺瑯
Enamel
The colors of enamels are painted on the glaze and they show a greater thickness than those of Fencai decorations. Enameled decorations often use brighter colors. Enamelled porcelains were first fired toward the end of the Kangxi reign.
淺絳
Jianqiang
This decoration definitely resembles the style of traditional paintings rather than a porcelain decoration.
