Celadon
Celadon, a famous type of ancient Chinese stoneware, both a type of distinctive transparent green glaze and a kind of ceramic or porcelain fired with that glaze came into being during the period of the Five Dynasties (907 - 960). It is characterized by its simple but refined shapes, jade-like glaze, solid substance with its distinctive style.
Celadon glazes can be produced in a variety of colors, including white, grey, blue and yellow, depending on the thickness of the applied glaze and the type of clay to which it is applied. However, the most famous shades range in color from a very pale green crackle to deep intense green, often meaning to mimic the green shades of jade. The color is produced by iron oxide in the glaze recipe or clay body. Celadon are usually fired in a reducing atmosphere kiln.
The celadon was usually made into bowls, plates, vases, jars and other vessels.
Its Chinese name, qingci, means “greenish porcelain”. Why then is it known in the West as “celadon”?
Celadon was the hero of the French writer Honor111d'Urfe's romance L'Astr1111(1610), the lover of the heroine Astr111.He was presented as a young man in green and his dress became all the rage in Europe. And it was just about this time that the Chinese qingci made its debut in Paris and won acclaim. People compared its colour to Celadon's suit and started to call the porcelain “celadon”, a name which has stuck and spread to other countries.
http://www.asianartmall.com/celadon.htm
http://www.chinaetravel.com/china/cceladon.html
http://www.chinainfoonline.com/ChineseArtsCrafts/Celadon.htm
