Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-gtxcr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T06:53:50.575Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Research into Coal-Clay Composite Ceramics of Sichuan Province, China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2017

Chandra L. Reedy*
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Analysis of Cultural Materials, Center for Historic Architecture and Design, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, U.S.A.
Pamela B. Vandiver
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
Ting He
Affiliation:
Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology, Chengdu, China
Ying Xu
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Analysis of Cultural Materials, Center for Historic Architecture and Design, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, U.S.A.
Yanyu Wang
Affiliation:
Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology, Chengdu, China
*
*(Email: clreedy@udel.edu)
Get access

Abstract

A group of traditional pottery workshops in Sichuan Province, China, produce a unique coal-clay composite ceramic that is fired using a similarly unique kiln design and two-stage firing procedure not seen in any other ceramic tradition. Here we report on field and laboratory efforts to better understand this unusual ceramic material and technology, the functional advantages as cookware, braziers, and large storage vessels that include high strength and high thermal shock resistance, and the cultural context that supported the creativity and experimentation needed to develop such an innovative technology.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Reedy, C.L., Thin-section Petrography of Stone and Ceramic Cultural Materials, Archetype, London, 2008.Google Scholar
Reedy, C.L., Anderson, J., Reedy, T J. and Liu, Y., Image Analysis in Quantitative Particle Studies of Archaeological Ceramic Thin Sections. Advances in Archaeological Practice 2(4), 2004, pp. 252268.Google Scholar
Reedy, C.L., Anderson, J. and Reedy, T.J., Quantitative Porosity Studies of Archaeological Ceramics by Image Analysis. In: Vandiver, P.B., Li, W., Maines, C. and Sciau, P., eds., Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology X, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2015, doi#10.1557/opl.2014.711.Google Scholar
Kingery, W.D. and Vandiver, P.B., Ceramic Masterpieces: Art, Structure, Technology, Free Press, New York, 1986.Google Scholar
Vandiver, P.B., Variability of Song Dynasty Green Glaze Technology Using Microstructure, Microcomposition and Thermal History to Compare Yaozhou, Jun, Ru, Yue, Longquan, Guan, and Korean Koryo Dynasty Materials and Practices. In: Shi, N. and Miao, J., eds., Proceedings of International Symposium on Science and Technology of Five Great Wares of the Song Dynasty, Science Press, Beijing, 2016, pp. 391432.Google Scholar
Frederick, Matson , personal communication to P.B. Vandiver, Fall 1984.Google Scholar
Vandiver, P.B., Ellingson, W.A., Robinson, T.K., Lobick, J.J. and Seguin, F.H., New Applications of X-radiographic Imaging Technologies for Archaeological Ceramics. Archaeomaterials 5(2), 1991, pp. 185207.Google Scholar
Vandiver, P.B. and Reedy, C.L., Traditional Craftsmanship and Technology of Jianyang Black Wares from Fujian, China. Studies in Conservation, 59 (S1), 2014, pp. 169172.Google Scholar
MacKenzie, R.C., Differential Thermal Analysis, Academic Press, London, 1970, pp. 317321.Google Scholar
Wendlandt, W.W., Thermal Analysis, John Wiley, New York, 1986, pp. 373380.Google ScholarPubMed
Gowlland, G., Style, Skill and Modernity in the Zisha Pottery of China. Journal of Modern Craft, 2(2), 2009, pp. 129142.Google Scholar
Dilley, R., The Visibility and Invisibility of Production among Sengalese Craftsmen. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 10(4), 2004, pp. 797813.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Underhill, A. P., Craft Production and Social Change in Northern China: Fundamental Issues in Archaeology, Kluwer/Academic/Plenum, New York, 2002.Google Scholar
Spence, J., Chi’ing. In: K.C. Chang, ed., Food in Chinese Culture: Anthropological and Historical Perspectives, Yale University Press, New Haven, 1977, pp. 259294.Google Scholar
Pye, D., On the Nature and Art of Workmanship, Cambridge University Press, London, 1968, pp. 340.Google Scholar
Chang, K. C., Food in Chinese Culture: Anthropological and Historical Perspectives, Yale University Press, New Haven, 1977.Google Scholar