Author: Li Lu (Sherry)
Published: Fall 2022
The Ou Kiln Museum, located in Zhejiang Dongfang Career Technical College in Longwan District, Wenzhou City, is China's first museum dedicated to the collection, research, and exhibition of ancient Ou Kiln ceramics.
Ou Kiln, a renowned kiln originating from ancient Wenzhou, was praised by poet Yu Du who said "The selected exquisite porcelain and pottery wares are all from kilns in Dong'ou (the ancient name of Wenzhou."
The museum collects many ceramic and stone tool specimens from more than 30 various sites in Zhejiang Province. The curator sorted them by era and placed them on different cabinets for visitors to watch, Thursday, Nov.3rd, 2022. [Photo/Li Lu]
The museum houses over 160 pieces of various representative utensils of Ou Kiln ancient ceramics spanning over 3,000 years, from the late Neolithic Age to the Yuan Dynasty.
Some of the relics were procured from the Provincial Institute of Archaeology or donated by collectors, while others were discovered by Ren Zhang, the executive vice president of Ou Kiln College of Zhejiang Dongfang Career Technical College.
When this Xia Dynasty porcelain bowl was unearthed, only two-fifths of the fragments remained. After experts repaired it with white plaster, the porcelain bowl was able to take on its full shape, giving people a glimpse of people's lives about 4,000 years ago, Thursday, Nov. 3rd, 2022. [Photo/Li Lu]
“Wenzhou is full of historical sites,” Zhang said. “When I hear that the old houses in the city are demolished, I would go to the construction site to find valuable ceramic fragments.”
In addition, the “ghost market” is also one of the good places to find antiques mentioned by Zhang.
The “ghost market” is a type of morning market. It usually starts at two or three in the morning and closes until dawn. Many rare treasures without an owner can be found here, such as porcelain vases and jade.
“I often go to the ghost market with a flashlight at five in the morning to see if there are any fresh treasures,” Zhang said.
The Ou Kiln Museum also has an exhibition area of Ou Kiln works by teachers and students.
“Making porcelain requires multiple steps, including drawing, drying, glazing, firing,” Xun Feng, a student at the school said. “Each step must be strictly controlled. For example, the first burning needs to be 800℃, and the second burning needs to reach 1000 ℃.”
Ceramics have become more lifelike and diversified in the hands of young students. A student-made porcelain statue of Tang monk, the protagonist of Journey to the West is on display, Thursday, Nov.3rd, 2022. [Photo/Li Lu]
The existence of the museum allows a new generation of young people to know the history and life of their ancestors, experience the immortal artistic charm of Ou Kiln, and actively participate in the inheritance of this culture.
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