The slab factory was the first time we got to see the Chinese division of labor process at work. In one small neighborhood area, every turn into every alley led us into the slab factories. The process itself was rudimentary. Two people (or four people depending on the size of the slab) would set out a log of clay on a table and use a PVC pipe to roll it out into an even slab, with the thickness determined by two slats of wood on either side of the table. They would then pick up the board on which the slab was rolled and flip it over on a clay or plaster table to dry. The slabs were then fired upright in order to avoid warping in the kiln. In the slab factory there were also slab decorators who seemed to be rubbing powdered pigments into engraved lines in the already fired slabs. The people at the slab factory were so kind and welcoming to our group. Women held their children’s hands to wave hello and goodbye to us. In the downtown Jingdezhen area, people gape and stare at us but in this smaller and more isolated area, everyone wanted to engage with us and say hello.
In the afternoon, we visited the big vase factory, which was not running because it was a Sunday. There were, however, a couple of decorators that were painting on the vases were working. They painted traditional mountainous Chinese landscapes using the chung wah blue and white technique. Shoji explained that these are not artists but rather crafstman, who have been rigorously trained in the technique and the finished painting is simply the product of muscle memory.
Next to the big vase factory was a slip casting factory, making teapots to be sold at retail locations. We were not able to see any of the finished products. People were taking the slip cast parts out of molds and rubbing off the mold lines. At this point I was very confused about the distinction of “handmade” versus “factory made.” Many artists use and design slip cast pieces and categorize them as handmade and artist work. What is the line between that which is sold in department stores and is mass produced and the slipcast and mass produced work of labeled “artists?”
In the afternoon, we visited the big vase factory, which was not running because it was a Sunday. There were, however, a couple of decorators that were painting on the vases were working. They painted traditional mountainous Chinese landscapes using the chung wah blue and white technique. Shoji explained that these are not artists but rather crafstman, who have been rigorously trained in the technique and the finished painting is simply the product of muscle memory.
Next to the big vase factory was a slip casting factory, making teapots to be sold at retail locations. We were not able to see any of the finished products. People were taking the slip cast parts out of molds and rubbing off the mold lines. At this point I was very confused about the distinction of “handmade” versus “factory made.” Many artists use and design slip cast pieces and categorize them as handmade and artist work. What is the line between that which is sold in department stores and is mass produced and the slipcast and mass produced work of labeled “artists?”
Slabs are fired upright to avoid warping
Flipping over slabs onto a clay table
Rolling out a slab
Decorating a slab
Decorating the big vases
The slipcase factory
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