|VIET NAM ART|
BAT TRANG CERAMICS
Bat Trang Ceramics through History
In the late 15th century, Bat Trang had been well known for producing the best quality ceramics in the country. Many of these ceramic pieces were customized for aristocratic families and religious needs. These pieces included inscription of the year of production, the name of the patron and the potter's name. Vietnamese annals also recorded in the 16th century, Bat Trang ceramics were offered as tribute to China in numerous occasions.
Following terrestrial discoveries in Asia in the early 17th century, many European countries rushed to the Far East to set up bases for commerce trading. Vietnamese ceramic industry continued to prosper, especially during the Mac's reign. Multiple shipments of ceramics were exported to Japan where the Bat Trang style was enthusiastically adapted by local kilns as "Kochi (Giao Chi) ware". Dutch, English and Portuguese merchants purchased Vietnamese ceramics in the hundred of thousands to resell in Malaya, Sumatra and Bangal.
From the end of 17th, particularly in the 18th century, Vietnamese ceramics exported to South East Asian countries declined rapidly when the Chinese resumed its ceramic exports. Bat Trang ceramics were no longer exported and its products served mainly the domestic market. Today, Bat Trang still turn out large quantity of ceramic wares for both domestic and export markets. New designs and models as well as reproductions of ancient styles and glazes are very well received by art connoisseurs everywhere.
OF BAT TRANG CERAMIC WARES
Utilitarian ware (plates, bowls, teacups, kettles, wine bottles, flowerpots and vases): This type of ware has a thicker and heavier body compared to the Chinese ceramics. The utilitarian wares are mostly covered with ivory, moss green or brown glaze. Common designs used on utilitarian wares were sacred and ordinary animals such as dragon, phoenix, tortoise, horse, tiger, bird, floral scroll, and landscape scenery.
Cult ware (lamp stands, candle holders, incense burner and altar boxes): This type of Bat Trang ceramics were produced predominantly for religious needs. Many of these pieces, especially the lamp stands, carried intricate molding applied around the body. Bat Trang cult wares are well known for their elaborate design and meticulous crafting.
Decorative objects (house models, altars, statues and architectural fixtures): These objects usually carried very complex design of mythical and religious theme. Bat Trang tiles and architectural fixtures are also known to be used in the construction of the imperial court in Hue in the early 1800's.
VIETNAMESE FOLK ART (Ðong Ho Woodblock Printing)
Woodblock printing has always been a familial craft passed on for generations of artist in the Ðng H village. Each year after the rice harvest, all members of the family pitch in the production of the paintings for sale at the Têt. Adults and children, depending on skills and capabilities, share the work from making the silk paper to printing and coloring the paintings. The production of a painting starts with a design pattern that is engraved on the woodblock. The first print is made on silk paper using a paste of finely ground sea shell. Successive presses are then made to add different colors to the picture. All colors used in the Ðông Hô` painting are natural ingredients such as charcoal for black color, ochre for red, yams for brown, and day lilies for yellow.
The most common subjects of Ðng
H painting are folk
themes depicting ordinary daily life or domestic animals that live around
the peasants such as rooster, hen and chicklets, pig and piglets. Other
favorite subjects are scenes from popular legends or historical tales
of national heroes and heroines of the past such as the Trung
sisters, Trieu Thi Trinh, young
king Ðinh Bo Linh playing battlefield
(c lau tp
Quy Bi T
1. Hng da
DESIGNS & THEORIES OF DYNASTIC DRAGONS
Period (400 BC to 200 AD)
Period (8th-10th century)
Ly Dynasty (10th-11th century)
Tran Dynasty (13th-14th century)
Dynasty (16th-17th century)
Dynasty (18th-20th century)
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