Shiwan Art Ceramics Factory in Foshan

Shiwan Art Ceramics (石湾美术陶瓷) is a specialty product of Shiwan Town (石湾镇), Foshan (佛山市), Guangdong Province (广东省), and is a geographic indication product of China. The history of Shiwan ceramics dates back to the Tang Dynasty, and it flourished during the Ming (明) and Qing (清) Dynasties. By the Qing Dynasty, Shiwan’s ceramic craftsmanship had reached its peak, becoming a hub for highly developed ceramic production technology and a center for the commercial economy.

Historically, Shiwan ceramics were renowned. The Qing Dynasty scholar Qu Dajun (屈大均) wrote in “Guangdong Xinyu” (《广东新语》): “Shiwan ceramics are spread across the two Guang provinces and even overseas.” The “Nanhai Local Chronicles: Mineral Production” (《南海乡土志·矿物制造》) also recorded, “The annual trade exceeds one million, making it a major industry.”

After the reform and opening-up of China, Shiwan became the birthplace of modern architectural ceramics in China. In the 1980s, Shiwan pioneered the introduction of China’s first modernized wall and floor tile production line and the first modernized sanitary ware production line, marking the beginning of large-scale production of architectural and sanitary ceramics in China. As a result, China became the world’s largest producer of ceramic wall tiles, floor tiles, and sanitary ware.

Major Achievements of Shiwan Art Ceramics (石湾美术陶瓷)

Shiwan has produced many “firsts” in the Chinese ceramic industry, including the first glazed brick, first polished brick, first microcrystalline glass ceramic composite board, first ceramic cave stone, and the first ceramic thin board. These innovations have made Shiwan the largest, most complete, and most well-developed modern ceramic industrial center in China. With a production capacity that once accounted for more than 50% of China’s annual ceramic wall tile production, Shiwan has led the industry in product quality, technological development, and market trends.

On May 15, 2003, the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (国家质检总局) approved the protection of Shiwan Art Ceramics as a geographic indication product.

Notable Figures and Contributions

As of 2016, Shiwan is home to 22 national-level craft art (ceramics) masters, nearly 200 provincial and municipal-level ceramic masters, and more than 10,000 cultural, creative, and design professionals.

Product Characteristics and Quality

• Origin: Shiwan Town (石湾镇), Foshan (佛山市), Guangdong Province (广东省)
• Quality Features: Vivid, rich glazes, distinctive and unique character
• Geographic Indication: Recognized as a geographical indication product by the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
• Approval Number: 2003 No. 45 (国家质检总局公告2003年第45号)
• Approval Date: May 15, 2003

Product Features (产品特点)

The general characteristics of Shiwan Art Ceramics (石湾美术陶瓷) are: vivid and expressive, rich glazes, derived from life, diverse themes, and a strong ethnic, local, and cultural identity.

The craftsmanship of “Shiwan Figurines” (石湾公仔) has several unique features:

• First, the sculptural effect is heavily emphasized, employing various techniques such as molding, carving, engraving, scratching, pinching, and pressing.
• Second, in terms of glaze application, while most other ceramic products use underglaze and overglaze, “Shiwan Figurines” mix colorants directly with glazes, allowing the product to be colored during firing. The face and hand areas are left unglazed, allowing the clay’s natural color to give a more authentic texture. In contrast, other regions often glaze the entire body, and their rough, sandy clay requires a thicker layer of glaze, giving the product a more ancient, weighty artistic style.
• Third, “Shiwan Figurines” use clay as the primary material, and if fired in a gas kiln, the firing time is 10–11 hours at a temperature of 1250°C. In contrast, works from places like Jingdezhen (景德镇), which use porcelain clay, must be fired at a higher temperature, between 1280°C and 1300°C, to ensure whiteness.

“Shiwan Figurines” cover a wide range of themes with strong rural life influences. The craftsmanship fully absorbs the essence of traditional Chinese painting techniques, emphasizing generalization and exaggeration, focusing on capturing the spirit rather than precise detail. The figurines are lively and expressive, with rich, simple glazes, and the themes include both real-life inspirations and mythological legends. They employ both realistic and exaggerated forms, with two primary types of ceramic: unglazed and glazed, making them a highly regional and unique artistic product.

Since “Shiwan Figurines” are produced in folk kilns, the creative process is not constrained by formal guidelines. The designs are diverse, reflecting a deep connection with local rural life. The figurines’ style, which combines realism with exaggeration, as well as their diverse themes, has earned them high praise. Today, “Shiwan Figurines” hold a prominent place in the history of Chinese ceramic art, due to their distinctive ethnic characteristics, strong local flavor, and rich cultural content.

Product Classification

Shiwan ceramic works are generally classified into four grades from highest to lowest:

1. Original Works (原作)
   
   Original works are the artist’s original creations, representing the highest grade of ceramic works. These are the first pieces made without the aid of molds, and due to their rarity, they are highly valued and difficult to acquire. Collectors often do not want to part with them, making original works rare in the market.

2. Fine Works (精品)
   
   Fine works are created by making molds from the original works, and then refined by the artist. Sometimes, the refinement process enhances the inner quality and appearance of the piece, surpassing even the original. Since these works are personally refined by the artist, they are highly valuable and are more abundant than original works. Fine works, especially limited editions, are the main circulating items in the collector’s market.

3. Special Works (特制品)
   
   Special works are also made by mold casting, but unlike fine works, they are refined by the artist’s assistants rather than the artist themselves. They still hold a certain level of collectible value.

4. Ordinary Works (普通品)
   
   Ordinary works differ from the other three levels in that they are produced using casting rather than molding. They are mass-produced, and thus their collectible value is low. These works are typically used as gifts or for general household display.

Identification and Selection

There are five main methods to distinguish authentic Shiwan ceramics:

1. Look at the Appearance
   
   Authentic works have fine craftsmanship with highly detailed and lifelike carvings, while counterfeit pieces are typically rougher in craftsmanship.

2. Check the Material
   
   Authentic pieces are fired to a high degree, with the body appearing bluish-gray and a low water absorption rate. Counterfeit pieces tend to have a lower degree of firing, a slightly yellowish body, and a higher water absorption rate.

3. Examine the Markings
   
   Authentic pieces are marked with trademarks and seals, while counterfeits may use similar but false marks and seals to deceive buyers.

4. Check the Certificate
   
   Higher-grade authentic works come with a certificate stamped with an official seal.

5. Expert Appraisal
   
   For accurate identification, experts can be consulted. The Shiwan Ceramic Collectors Association (佛山市石湾陶艺收藏家协会) has a dedicated appraisal committee, which includes national-level masters and senior experts.

Production Environment

Shiwan (石湾) refers to the Shiwan, Zhangcha, Lanshi, and Huanshi towns under the jurisdiction of Shiwan District in Foshan (佛山市石湾区). In the traditional sense, Shiwan refers to a narrow area of about 2 square kilometers, located to the northeast of Dongping River, west of Damao Hill, east of Haikou, and north of Lanshi.

Foshan, where Shiwan is located, is one of China’s four famous ancient towns. The handicraft industry here was highly developed, leading to the use of many industrial waste materials. As a result, Shiwan figurines (石湾公仔) made use of local materials, incorporating a substantial amount of mulberry branch ash, rice straw ash, glass powder, river mud, and other resources in the glaze. These materials contain rich glaze base components such as silicon, aluminum, potassium, sodium, and coloring agents such as iron oxide. Additionally, animal ashes and feldspar powder were used as melting fillers, giving the glaze a certain thickness and fluidity, resulting in a strong tactile feeling after firing. Even today, Shiwan figurines continue to use many of these traditional materials in their glaze formulations.

In use, the glaze for Shiwan figurines is directly blended with coloring agents and fired in one go, which is called “colored glaze” in ceramic craft. In contrast, other ceramics often use underglaze and overglaze techniques.

Located in a delta plain at the center of the alluvial fan of the West and North Rivers, Shiwan enjoys a mild climate with abundant rainfall, no snow throughout the year, and long sunshine hours, creating excellent natural conditions. Since ancient times, the local people have taken advantage of these favorable conditions to develop a handicraft industry dominated by pottery. Foshan’s geographical location, near three rivers, further boosted its inland water transport, making Shiwan a major pottery and business hub in Lingnan (岭南) history.

The raw materials used for Shiwan figurines are called marine sediment clay, which includes black mud, white mud, red mud, and gang sand. After two rigorous selections and screenings, these materials are put into use. Although Shiwan had abundant resources before the Ming Dynasty, the long process of pottery-making gradually exhausted local materials. During the Ming Yongle period, the “Prohibition of Quarrying Gang Sand Stele” was issued, and the Qing Dynasty further prohibited quarrying clay and sand. As a result, Shiwan began purchasing raw materials from the neighboring Pearl River Delta region.

Historical Background 

In 1977, engraved pottery unearthed from a shell mound site near Shiwan was carbon-dated to be approximately 5,000 years old, proving that Shiwan has a history of over 5,000 years of pottery-making. Over this long period, the people of Shiwan have continuously engaged in pottery production, and the ceramic products from this region have come to be known as “Shiwan Figurines” (石湾公仔).

Shiwan art ceramics are local handicrafts primarily produced for export and have been internationally renowned for centuries. They are considered a unique branch of Chinese ceramic history, with the famous reputation of “Shiwan tiles, the best in the world” (“石湾瓦、甲天下”). During the Tang and Song Dynasties, Shiwan pottery was exported to Japan, Southeast Asia, and even further parts of the world via the Maritime Silk Road. According to historical records such as the “Complete Tang Writings” (《全唐文》) and “Song History” (《宋史》), pottery made in Shiwan was abundant in exports.

During the Ming Dynasty, under the leadership of Zheng He, a great fleet traveled to more than 30 countries and regions across Asia and Africa, further promoting the exchange between China and the world. Shiwan figurines saw greater export during this period.

By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Shiwan ceramics had matured into a well-established industry. Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the local pottery industry was divided into 26 specialized sectors, each producing in designated areas.

In 1956, the Shiwan Art Ceramic Factory was established. At the time, it employed 488 people, with a production value of 669,000 yuan. Before 1956, the industry was known as the “Antique Industry” (古玩行) and produced Shiwan figurines exclusively. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that individual pottery enterprises emerged, but Shiwan still maintained its leading position in the ceramic industry, producing numerous master craftsmen in China and Guangdong province.

Production Overview

In the 1950s, after the founding of New China, artists were full of passion, and most of their works focused on positive characters, reflecting the “spirit” of that era. For example, Liu Chuan’s works such as Lu Zhishen (鲁智深) and Meng Haoran (孟浩然) focused on depicting historical and classic literary figures. Works like Double Partridges (双鹌鹑), Lion and Snake (狮与蛇), and Double Happy Magpies (双喜鹊) by Qu Qian (区乾) were animal-themed pieces created using a sketching technique. Other works, such as Statue of Stalin (斯大林像) and Statue of Mao Zedong (毛泽东像) by Yin Jichang (尹积昌), featured an academic sculptural style, all reflecting the distinct features of Shiwan ceramics that met the requirements of the era.

In the 1960s, Shiwan’s “New China Fine Art Ceramics” primarily focused on reflecting real-life situations and expressing ideals. Artworks were created under the concept of “Art serving workers, peasants, and soldiers,” with pieces like Joy (喜悦) depicting the image of farmers, Ouyang Hai (欧阳海) and Liu Yingjun (刘英俊) showcasing soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army, and works like Changed the World (换了人间), Mongolian Art Propaganda Team (蒙古文艺宣传队), and Xinjiang Dance (新疆舞) portraying new images of ethnic minorities.

In the early 1970s, Shiwan began transforming traditional themes and artistic styles. Representative works from this period include Silk Road (丝绸之路), Zheng Chenggong (郑成功), and Hong Xuanjiao (洪宣娇), as well as works reflecting contemporary subjects, such as Test Needles (试针).

Achievements in Ceramics Production

Meitao (美陶) is the largest integrated ceramics base in South China. It is a demonstration base for the protection of geographical indication products, a national intangible cultural heritage production and protection unit, a time-honored brand enterprise, and a national industrial tourism demonstration site.

From 2010 to 2012, Meitao employed 400 staff involved in the production of “Shiwan Figurines” (石湾公仔), achieving annual outputs of 42.67 million yuan, 61.45 million yuan, and 63.36 million yuan respectively. It also opened the only existing Shiwan figurine ancient kiln, Tongqing Kiln (同庆灶), which has a history of over 400 years, and established the Foshan Shiwan Figurine Museum (佛山市石湾公仔博物馆), the Liu Chuan Memorial Hall (刘传纪念馆), an international ceramic artist creative base, a ceramics education and training center, a ceramics and home decor showroom, and a Chinese Shiwan Red Ceramic Art Creative Industry Base (中国石湾红色陶艺创意产业基地).

Product Honors

Meitao (美陶) has earned numerous accolades. It is the largest comprehensive ceramic art base in South China, a model base for the promotion of intellectual property in Guangdong Province, and a demonstration unit for the protection and inheritance of national intangible cultural heritage. It is also recognized as a time-honored brand enterprise and a national industrial tourism demonstration point.

On May 15, 2003, the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine approved the geographical indication protection for “Shiwan Fine Art Ceramics” (石湾美术陶瓷).

Geographical Indication

Geographical Protection Scope

The production area of Shiwan Fine Art Ceramics is within the administrative boundaries of Shiwan Town (石湾镇) in Foshan (佛山市).

Quality Technical Requirements

1. Standards Applied: Q/MT1205; ISO 9001:2000
2. Main Raw Materials: Red clay, white clay, black clay, and river sand.
3. Production Process:
   • Ingredient processing
   • Creation
   • Mold casting
   • Slurry injection
   • Trim work
   • Drying
   • Drawing eyebrows and rubbing with graphite
   • Glazing
   • Kiln loading
   • Firing
   • Grading
   • Warehousing