Chaozhou ceramics

CCTV.COM (04.28 2003 15:54)

    Over the years錛Chaozhou has earned the title of South China's ceramic capital due to its rich clay resource and a ceramics industry that is over 2錛00 years old. Fengxi錛the center of ceramic production at Chaozhou錛is home to more than 3錛00 factories錛employing a total of 50錛00 workers.

    In 2001錛the first Fengxi Ceramic Fair kicked off. The bi錛峚nnual event is held every April and October錛usually a week before the spring and autumn editions of the Canton Fair. To date錛buyers from the United States錛Europe錛South Korea錛the Philippines錛Indonesia錛Ecuador錛the United Arab Emirates錛Saudi Arabia and Taiwan have attended the fair.

    Makers improve product durability錛production efficiency:

    Daily錛島se items錛which represent 25 percent of the output錛are commonly made of stoneware錛white jade錛dolomite錛bone and reinforced ceramic. These come with underglazed錛overglazed錛medium錛峠lazed or color錛峠lazed finish.

    Some makers however錛are moving beyond the usual materials and glazes to improve product durability and appearance. Many makers also are reducing production costs by improving efficiency.

    They added white jade and bone ceramic to conventional stoneware and are in the process of developing products with a glass錛峫ike glaze. The products are claimed to have brighter and smoother surfaces.

    Lightweight dolomite ideal for art pieces錛d茅cor:

    Compared to conventional ceramic ware錛dolomite items are 40 percent lighter錛more flexible錛and carry brighter underglazed colors. Because the material offers greater design flexibility錛dolomite is used more for art pieces and decorative items錛and less for dinnerware.

    In fact錛unlike conventional daily錛島se dinnerware錛dolomite versions usually serve a decorative purpose and rarely come in complete sets that include bowls錛cups錛saucers and plates. Dolomite is usually heated at 800擄C to 1錛00擄C.

Editor:Han