Shiwan

Shiwan has been an important ceramic center since the Song and, unlike
imperial and large independent kilns, potters were modest craftsmen who transformed common materials into beautiful and colorful stoneware using waste materials, local coarse sand and inexpensive clay to produce daily utensils and pottery – perhaps one of the earliest artistic forms of recycling. Long “dragon kilns” from the late Ming and until 1949 were used and rarely cooled down properly to save money for upkeep resulting in uneven heating conditions that produced unique colors with tiny “sesame dot” markings that add to its unique charm. Many items produced during the late 19-early 20th century had a characteristic apple green glaze. See VA blog The Allure of Shiwan. Pottery.