Scott No: 1671-1676
Serial number: T62
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: April 15, 1981
Denomination: 8 fen
Designer: Wan Weisheng
Photo by: Wang Lu
Size of stamps:
30*40mm for Value 1, 3;
40*30mm for Value 2, 4, 5, 6
Perforation:
11.5*11 for Value 1, 3;
11*11.5 for Value 2, 4, 5, 6
Sheet composition:
50 (10*5) for Value 1, 3
50 (5*10) for Value 2, 4, 5, 6
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

T62 "Chinese Ceramics — Cizhou Kiln System" special stamps were issued on April 15, 1981. The set consists of 6 stamps, printed by photogravure, designed by Wan Weisheng, photographed by Wang Lu, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. (1)(3) measure 30 mm × 40 mm, perforation gauge 11.5 × 11; (2)(4)(5)(6) measure 40 mm × 30 mm, perforation gauge 11 × 11.5, with 50 stamps per sheet for all.

Theme of the Set

The Cizhou Kiln is the largest folk kiln system in northern China, with kiln sites mainly distributed in Handan, Hebei. It fired continuously from the Song to the Yuan dynasty, with a plain and unrestrained style close to folk life, and is the representative of northern folk ceramics. This set selects ancient porcelain treasures of the Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties and new works of the contemporary Cizhou Kiln, linking the development thread of the Cizhou Kiln from ancient times to the modern day, displaying the Cizhou Kiln's unique decorative techniques such as white-ground black-painting and incised carving, presenting the vigorous and vivid artistic appearance of northern folk ceramics, and popularizing Cizhou Kiln ceramic culture.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Song Dynasty · Double-Tiger Pattern Vase

This vessel uses the pearl-ground incised-flower technique and is a classic work of the Dengfeng Kiln of the Cizhou kiln system. The vase body has a pearl ground as its base, with tiger patterns incised and carved, imitating the chiseled decoration of Tang dynasty gold and silver wares, with smooth and lively lines. It is a highly representative display porcelain of the Song dynasty Cizhou kiln system.

Jin Dynasty · Black-Glaze Incised-Flower Vase

The vessel uses the black-glaze incised-flower technique: black glaze is applied first, then part of the glaze layer is carved away to reveal the body and form patterns, with a strong relief effect. The vase's patterns are concise and rough, with sharp black-and-white contrast, full of the bold and plain temperament of northern folk art—a characteristic technique of the Jin dynasty Cizhou Kiln.

Modern · Apricot Blossom Double-Handled Vase

Created by the contemporary Cizhou Kiln master Wei Zhiyu, it uses the colored-clay incising technique, integrating the compositional approach of northern window-flower paper-cutting. The vase body is painted with apricot blossoms and fruit, with romantic and full patterns and softly shaped double handles—an innovative practice of traditional Cizhou Kiln techniques in the contemporary era.

Yuan Dynasty · Double-Phoenix Pattern Jar

A typical white-ground black-flower painted piece. The jar body is painted with double-phoenix patterns, with free and easy brushwork and an unrestrained style. White-ground black-flower is the Cizhou Kiln's most iconic painted technique; in the Yuan dynasty it was widely used on jars, basins, and other daily vessels, with a strong folk flavor.

Yuan Dynasty · Dragon-and-Phoenix Pattern Flagon

The flagon shape is easy to carry and is a vessel form that emerged in the Yuan dynasty under the influence of nomadic culture. The flagon body is painted in white-ground black-color with dragon-and-phoenix patterns, with a full composition and concise brushwork, embodying the Yuan dynasty Cizhou Kiln's characteristic of accommodating multi-ethnic cultures.

Modern · Double-Tiger-Handle Zun

Also by Wei Zhiyu, it imitates the shape of an ancient zun, with tiger-shaped handles molded on both sides and antique, weighty decoration on the body, reproducing the vigorous charm of the ancient Cizhou Kiln. It is a representative work of modern Cizhou Kiln archaistic innovation.

Artistic Design Features

The set uses dark, elegant backgrounds to set off the porcelain wares, accurately restoring the texture of ceramic glazes and the details of decorations, with clear vessel outlines and soft light and shadow. The designer balances ancient porcelain and modern new works, juxtaposing and contrasting Cizhou Kiln vessels of different eras and different techniques, highlighting the artistic core of the Cizhou Kiln's "folk character." The images are concise and dignified, without superfluous embellishment, letting viewers focus on the vessels' forms, decorations, and craftsmanship. It is a classic work among ceramic-themed stamps.