Learn from the Experts: Longquan / Chinese Celadons
7pm Wednesday, 27 November 2019
82 Cairnhill Road
Singapore 229684
SEACS members are invited to a talk and pot-handling session on Chinese Celadon / Longquan by SEACS Council Members Andrew Nai and Johanes Rizal. SEACS members are also strongly encouraged to bring along examples of Longquan from their own collections to share with fellow members and seek fellow collector experts’ opinions.
Longquan is a county-level city of southwestern Zhejiang Province in East China. There were once approximately 400 kiln sites in Longquan, most of which were established during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) or Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), and they became a pillar of overseas trade in the 12th to 15th centuries. Many archaeological sites throughout China have unearthed Longquan, a testament to their popularity.
Due to the huge demand for Longquan around the ancient world, they can be found in the Middle East, Europe, Japan, Korea and throughout Southeast Asia. Longquan have been discovered in ancient shipwrecks and were also transported across the Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road.
Longquan’s jade-green glaze was admired by both Chinese and European connoisseurs of Chinese wares. When it was first introduced to France in the 17th century, Longquan amazed the nobility there. Legend has it that as there was no French name for such a type of Chinese ceramic then, the French decided to name Longquan after the shepherd Celadon in Honoré d’Urfé’s French pastoral romance, L’Astrée (1627), who wore pale green ribbons.
About Andrew Nai and Johanes Rizal
Andrew Nai is a SEACS Life Member and current Council Member. He has been collecting Chinese ceramics, textiles and old books for 17 years. Andrew is a partner of a global financial services firm that specialises in funds management, wealth management and corporate advisory with operations in Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Johanes Rizal is a SEACS Life Member and current Council Member. He has been collecting Chinese ceramics for 30 years and in his free time, loves to visit museums and galleries, and attend art auctions.
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This event is open to SEACS members only. Please RSVP by 25 November 2019 to seacs.secretary@gmail.com as there are only 20 seats available. The talk will begin at 7pm sharp and end at approximately 9pm. Parking is difficult along Cairnhill Road, and members are encouraged to come by public transport or taxi. The closest MRT station is Orchard or Newton, which is only a 10-minute walk away from this event.