SHIWAN WARES

Shiwan is a small town in the South of the Guandong Province of China. These Shih-Wein Wares are made from a special clay from one particular mountain since Song Dynasty (960 – 1279). This unique clay allowed the people to make utilitarian wares with thin walls, yet strong and durable. By the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644), products included cornices and finials for temples, and especially figurines which continue to present day.
Besides the sandy clay, other peculiarities of these wares are the unique glazes (and their colours) and the way the figurines are made to render stories of mostly ancient heroes, scholars, immortals and contemporary personalities too.
From the late Qing dynasty (1644 – 1911), the artists and workshops started to add their seals and names. Some well known artists during Qing were Pan Yue Shu, Liew Jeou Chou and Cheng Hui Yen. Some Republic and present artists are Liao Quan, Liao Jeat Mien, Chang Jea, etc.
The wares are made by 3 distinct methods; totally by hand, using mold and then carved by hand, and mass production with molds only. Within the mold method, it can be further subdivided into (a) mold plus touch-ups by the artist, (b) mold plus touch-ups by senior artisans, and (c) touch-ups by apprentices.
The glazes are also quite unique being generally thicker and only they have the pomegranate red.
In view of its long history and significance, it is now considered a minor cultural art form within the ceramic culture.

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