The Secrets Of Chinese Transmutation Porcelain
Most kinds of porcelain simply have images painted on them, but there is a special kind of porcelain where no painting is involved. Transmutation porcelain designs are formed out of the glaze itself.
How can such beautiful images be created?
To make transmutation porcelain, potters simply apply a layer or multiple layers of glaze that was unevenly mixed with copper, cobalt, titanium, manganese, or other metals. These metallic elements will turn into different colors during firing, and altogether they form a pattern that could be a fascinating work of art or a complete flop.
In ancient China, some potters even achieved patterns that looked like the faces of their emperors!
Because of the randomness of each design, a single pattern can never be repeated. It all depends on the exact mixture of the elements in the glaze and the temperatures the kiln reaches.
As a matter of fact, this is exactly why people worldwide love this type of porcelain. After all, when luck herself gives you a piece of art, its best to grab it.
Transmutation porcelain is believed to have originated over a thousand years ago. Is is said that the artisan who first made a transmutation porcelain piece was terrified because he thought there was an evil spirit in his kiln!
Nowadays, collectors around the world love this kind of porcelain, and some people pay extreme prices for just one work by a respected potter.
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