Scott No: 2361-66
Serial number: T166
Values in set: 6
Denomination: 330 fen
Date of issue: October 11, 1991
Designer: Chen Rongming, Zhang Lei
Size of stamps:
30*40mm for Value 1, 2, 4, 5
40*30mm for Value 3, 6
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition:
40 (8*5)for Value 1, 2, 4, 5
40 (5*8)for Value 3, 6
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

The special stamp set Jingdezhen Porcelain, catalog number T166, was issued on October 11, 1991. It consists of six stamps, produced using the photogravure process. The stamp sizes are 30×40 mm for (1), (2), (4), and (5), with a perforation gauge of 11.5 degrees; and 40×30 mm for (3) and (6), with a perforation gauge of 11.5×11 degrees. Each sheet contains 40 stamps. The stamps were designed by Chen Rongming and Zhang Lei and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works.

Thematic Focus of the Set

This stamp set selects six representative porcelain pieces from Jingdezhen, spanning from the Song Dynasty to the modern era, linking the thousand-year history of porcelain making. It showcases the characteristics of Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital—"white as jade, bright as a mirror, thin as paper, and resonant as a chime"—and presents classic techniques such as bluish-white porcelain, blue-and-white, polychrome, blue-and-white with underglaze red, and eggshell porcelain. It highlights the long history, generational inheritance, and continuous innovation of China's ceramic art.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Song – Bluish-White Glazed Ewer and Bowl

The main subject is a Song Dynasty bluish-white glazed wine ewer and warming bowl. Bluish-white porcelain was a signature product of Jingdezhen in the Song Dynasty. Its glaze is warm and elegant, bluish-white like jade, representing early Jingdezhen porcelain.

Yuan – Blue-and-White Plum Vase with "Xiao He Pursuing Han Xin" Scene

The image is a Yuan blue-and-white plum vase depicting "Xiao He Pursuing Han Xin Under the Moon." Yuan blue-and-white marks the maturity of blue-and-white porcelain. This vase is painted with the story of Xiao He pursuing Han Xin under the moon. The painting is vivid, making it a national treasure-level masterpiece of Yuan blue-and-white.

Ming – Polychrome Covered Jar with Cloud and Dragon Pattern

The image is a Ming Dynasty polychrome covered jar with cloud and dragon patterns. Polychrome porcelain has rich and intense colors. The dragon pattern is vigorous and unrestrained, representing the superb painted and fired techniques of Ming Dynasty colored porcelain.

Qing – Polychrome Zun with Flower-and-Bird Pattern

The image is a Qing Dynasty polychrome zun with flower-and-bird patterns. The vessel form is expansive, and the flower-and-bird decorations are intricate and lively, reflecting the fine and ornate decorative style of Qing Dynasty colored porcelain.

Modern – Blue-and-White with Underglaze Red Carp Dish

The image is a blue-and-white with underglaze red carp dish. Blue-and-white paired with underglaze red creates a red-and-blue interplay. The carp pattern symbolizes good fortune. It is a fine modern work inheriting ancient techniques.

Modern – Gilt Octagonal Eggshell Bowl with Chandelier Pattern

The image is an octagonal eggshell bowl. Eggshell porcelain has an extremely thin body and excellent translucency. With gilt decoration, it is a model of modern special craft porcelain from Jingdezhen.

Artistic and Design Features

The set uses a realistic still-life presentation. The background is simple and elegant, highlighting the porcelain's forms and decorations. The colors restore the glaze textures of ancient porcelain: the warmth of bluish-white, the depth of blue-and-white, and the brilliance of polychrome are clearly distinguished. The compositions are steady, accurately reproducing the vessel shapes, balancing the dignity of cultural relics with the beauty of the porcelain itself. The beauty of ceramics is fully displayed on stamps.