JINGDÉ · Jingdezhen
The Makers
Behind every piece of Jingdezhen porcelain is a chain of specialists. The city has long worked this way: one person prepares the clay, another throws, another trims, another paints, another glazes, and a kiln crew decides the final result.
A city of specialists
Jingdezhen's workshops developed a division of labour so fine that a single vessel could pass through dozens of hands — the old saying holds that a pot passes through seventy-two processes before it is finished. That system still shapes the city today, from family workshops in the old kiln districts to independent studios founded by a new generation of ceramic artists.
The hands we work with
- Throwers and mould makers — give each form its profile, wall thickness and weight.
- Trimmers — refine the foot and balance once the clay is leather-hard.
- Painters — lay cobalt blue beneath the glaze, or enamel colours above it.
- Glaze makers — mix and apply celadon, sweet-white and iron-rich glazes.
- Kiln masters — control temperature and atmosphere, where colour is finally decided.
Maker profiles
We are photographing and interviewing the workshops behind our collection. Their stories will appear here and on each product page.