Chinese craft, from Liling, Hunan

A flower, held
in the everyday.

Bespoke Liling underglaze polychrome porcelain. A personal thought, a meaningful story, brought to life through professional handcraft.

Meet the craft
An original form and motif study, not a product photograph
Colour beneath the glaze

Painted into the body.
Finished by the kiln.

In underglaze polychrome decoration, the design is painted on the body and covered with a transparent glaze before high-temperature firing. “Five colours” describes a multicolour tradition rather than a fixed palette of five.

Outlining and washes give birds and flowers their depth. Thin, layered colour creates a luminous effect. Hand painting and firing introduce small variations, so a commission begins with artwork and a sample.

Read the craft and history guide

A craft with a long journey.

From technical innovation to living heritage. These historical references are separate from the current commission service.

  1. Early 1900s

    A new ceramic school

    Xiong Xiling helped establish a ceramic school and company in Hunan, supporting modern training and technical development.

  2. 1915

    An international stage

    China’s intangible heritage portal records a gold medal for Liling underglaze polychrome porcelain at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition.

  3. 1955

    Research and apprenticeship

    The Hunan Ceramic Research Institute opened. Senior artisans including Wu Shouqi trained a new generation, among them Chen Yanglong.

  4. Late 20th century

    Layered washes, a distinct style

    Chen Yanglong developed thin, layered washes to bring depth and translucency to botanical decoration.

  5. 2008

    National heritage recognition

    The firing technique entered China’s second national intangible cultural heritage list, project Ⅷ-95.

Sources: China’s intangible heritage portal, a history of the craft; the second national heritage list.

Where have the works been used?

From a painted flower to ceremonial spaces.

The heritage portal records Liling porcelain being used in Zhongnanhai, the Great Hall of the People and as state gifts. It identifies Chen Yanglong’s Autumn Splendour plate in the Hunan Hall, and his Lotus tableware and Peony stationery as pieces selected for use by national leaders.

These records describe the craft’s historical influence. They do not establish the maker, provenance or use of a new commissioned piece.

Read the exhibition and works source

What would you like to make?

Begin with the purpose, then choose a form, motif and maker. These are original concept studies; the approved sample defines the actual piece.

Everyday teaware

Cups, gaiwan and tea sets. Bring together form, feel and a personal motif.

Pieces for a space

Vases and decorative pieces designed around a room, a plant or a favourite colour.

Gifts with a story

Commemorative plates and sets with a date, inscription or meaningful theme.

See the actual works at their source.

Real work photographs were found in the heritage portal’s exhibition feature. Open the original photographs or article for reference. Image rights remain with their owners; historical works are not products sold here.

Freesia

The source describes Chen Yanglong and Yang Yongshan’s collaboration on form and decoration.

View original photograph

Original article and image captions · Source image rights

From an idea to a finished piece.

Discuss a commission with a professional ceramic maker. Confirm the named maker, credentials, signature and deliverables before production.

View the commission checklist
  1. Share the purpose, quantity, budget and timing
  2. Agree on the maker, form, design and price
  3. Approve the sample, materials and intended use
  4. Agree on production, packaging and acceptance

Your next good idea.
Shall we?

No perfect plan needed. A hello is a good start.