Blanc de Chine, a French term which literally translates as ‘white from China’, is the collective term given to a specific style of fine white Chinese porcelain. Popularised during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the genre is also known as Dehua porcelain, as the ceramics were predominantly produced at the Dehua kilns in the province of Fujian, in South China.
Fujian had long been a centre for the production of ceramics, with white porcelain of varying quality being produced in Dehua as early as the Song Dynasty (960–1279). The kaolin-rich porcelain clay mined in the nearby mountains is soft and easy to shape, meaning local potters could work quickly and produce large quantities of work.
Dehua’s proximity to the sea also meant that produce could be quickly shipped to markets in China, Japan, the Ottoman Empire and eventually Europe. To date, more than 180 kiln sites have been identified in Fujian province and the area became renowned for producing everything from everyday household wares to religious figures and scholars’ tools.
The first item of Chinese porcelain ever seen in Europe was produced in Dehua and is believed to have been brought to Venice by Marco Polo on his return from the Far East in 1295. The small, pear-shaped vase, decorated with floral motifs can now be seen in the collection at St Mark's Basilica in Venice.
Advances in technology during the Ming Dynasty meant that Dehua’s ceramicists were able to perfect their practices. Using a very small amount of iron oxide in the firing process, they were able to produce a warmer tone of porcelain with a lustrous surface which became known as ‘ivory white’ or ‘milk white’.
Without question, the most popular product of the Ming era and still hugely popular today were Dehua’s religious figurines which were manufactured in vast quantities. Chief amongst these were representations of Guanyin (觀音), the Chinese goddess of mercy and compassion, who was particularly revered in Fujian.
Intriguingly, similar figures of Guanyin depicted with a child were exported in large numbers to Japan as they closely resembled depictions of the Madonna and child in Christian iconography. This was due to a ban on Christianity imposed under the Tokugawa shogunate in 1638, which forced Catholics in Japan to practice their religion in secret.
Other iconic Blanc de Chine designs of the time include the libation cup, whose form was based on that of the traditional rhinoceros horn drinking vessel, and Dogs of Fo, a traditional Chinese architectural feature that was thought to protect a tomb, shrine or domicile from harmful spirits and ne’er-do-wells.
The term Blanc de Chine was coined by early French collectors and is indicative of the fervour with which Dehua wares were first received in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. Soon domestic manufacturers such as Meissen, St Cloud and Chelsea had developed their own means of producing white porcelain in the hopes of cashing in on the fashion for Blanc de Chine.
To this day, Dehua remains one of the largest centres of porcelain manufacture in China, working with many global brands and attracting and inspiring leading ceramic artists and designers. In 2021 Dehua’s kilns were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, celebrating their immense cultural importance to China and their influence on artists and makers around the world.
Click here to view examples of Dehua porcelain currently available from BADA members.