Longquan celadons made in the Yuan Dynasty were blended with the wild style of northern nomadic tribes. With heavy glaze and grand engraving on their bodies, cucurbit-shaped bottles, pots with lotus leaf-shaped covers and phoenix tail-shape cups were the masterpieces of that period, displaying the power and grandeur of the royalty.
Gradual Decline in Ming and Qing Dynasties
Longquan celadon gradually declined during the Ming and Qing Dynasty. In the early Ming Dynasty Longquan kiln made a large number of celadons for the royal court, most of which inherited the style of Yuan Dynasty which not only had regular shapes but also engraved on both sides. However, in the mid and late Ming Dynasty, the export of celadons dropped sharply due to the Ming government’s ban on maritime trade. The number of kilns was reduced to about 160 and the figures and crafts of celadons were not as delicate as before.
Nevertheless longquan celadon still represented the luxury of royalty. Featured by elegant figures, delicate carvings and mellow glazes, they were largely collected by the royal court or presented to foreign emissaries as a gift. Today, they still can be found in the Topkapi Palace in Turkey.
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