CHINA’S “CHINA”: UNDERSTANDING DECORATIVE MOTIFSON CHINESE PORCELAIN

- Various sizes of paper Chinet classic white dinner plates and

bowls- Non-toxic blue Crayola markers

(red can also be used)- Bamboo calligraphy brushes

- Water- Construction paper (if stencils

will be designed and used)- Scissors (if stencils will be

designed and used

Materials Necessary:

Process:Begin by having the students review China Institute’s online resource collection “China’s ‘China’: Porcelain’s Contribution to World History and Culture” (available at www.China360online.org)

Then, have the teacher explain that students will be drawing their own blue-and-white (or red) designs onto a plate and/or bowl to get an appreciation of what is significant about various motifs on Chinese porcelains.

Process Pt 2:

Students should then review various motifs online at:-The National Palace Museum site “New Era of Ornamentation: 1350-1521” (http://www.npm.gov.tw/exh95/ming/exhibition_en/en.html)- The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s online thematic essay “East and West: Chinese Export Porcelain” (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ewpor/hd_ewpor.htm)

-Alternatively, teachers could print out examples for students to refer to as they draw their own copy.

Process Pt 3:

-Then, the teacher should distribute the paper plates, bowls, and the Crayola marker.

-The class can opt to first draw a stencil version of motifs (i.e. a bat) or chose to draw free hand.

- Students should also have access to bamboo calligraphy brushes and a cup of water in order to wash the blue ink into the plate/bowl to create a more textured approach.

- Students should be encouraged to think about

- The dominant motif (or motifs) in their design

- The symmetrical border designs - How to balance the use of color while

still retaining the field of white in the back-ground