Scott No: -
Serial number: 2007-3
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: February 3, 2007
Denomination: 240 fen
Designer: Reng Guo'en
Size of stamps: 30 * 40
Perforation: 13
Size of Sheet I: 154 * 240 mm
Sheet(I) composition: 20
Size of Sheet II: 200 * 144 mm
Sheet(II) composition: 8
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This stamp set was officially issued on February 3, 2007. It consists of two stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 2.40 yuan. The stamps were designed by Ren Guoen, with Chen Jingyi serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. Both ceramic sculptures featured on the stamps are original works by the modern Shiwan ceramic master Pan Yushu.

Shiwan ceramics, originating from Shiwan in Foshan, Guangdong, are a renowned Lingnan folk craft, commonly known as "Shiwan figurines." With a history spanning several centuries, they are celebrated for their vivid and expressive figure sculptures and their rich, varied glazes. China Post selected two surviving figure sculptures by the master ceramic artist Pan Yushu for this special stamp issue, showcasing the realistic yet lively style of Shiwan ceramics, which also embodies the artistic spirit of literati culture. The stamps pay tribute to the traditional crafts of Lingnan and document this unique intangible cultural heritage of southern China.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Searching for Plum Blossoms in the Snow

This work is a classic white-glazed figure sculpture by Pan Yushu. The stamp depicts an elderly scholar and a young attendant enjoying plum blossoms in the snow. The pure white glaze evokes a winter scene, while the figures' serene expressions and the soft, flowing lines of their robes convey the elegant and refined spirit of ancient scholars. This piece is a representative example of Shiwan's white-glazed figure sculptures.

Zhaojun's Departure from the Frontier

This color-glazed sculpture portrays the famous historical scene of Wang Zhaojun riding a horse on her journey to the frontier. The rich, layered glaze, with its interplay of blue and green tones, gives the robes a deep and ancient texture. Zhaojun's gentle and composed expression recreates the story of her journey beyond the frontier to promote ethnic harmony, fully demonstrating the distinctive kiln-transformed glaze effects for which Shiwan ware is renowned.

Artistic and Design Features

The two stamps share a unified vertical composition, with contrasting light and dark backgrounds. The lighter background highlights the pure elegance of the white glaze, while the darker background enhances the shimmering quality of the color glaze. The designs faithfully reproduce the appearance of the original ceramic sculptures, preserving the glaze texture and the subtle expressions of the figures. The photogravure printing delicately captures the matte texture of the ceramics and the kiln-transformed colors, authentically recreating the unique artistic charm of traditional Shiwan figurines.

This stamp set is a thematic issue on Chinese ceramic crafts, available in three formats: stamp set, large sheet, and miniature sheet. Collectors often pair it with other ceramic-themed stamps, such as those featuring Jingdezhen porcelain and Longquan celadon, making it a classic addition to collections on folk crafts and Lingnan culture.