YONGZHENG IMPRESSED FOUR-CHARACTER SEAL MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1723-1735)

It was recorded that the Yongzheng Emperor had specifically requested good copies of Song glazes to be produced at Jingdezhen, at which the famous kiln director Tang Ying (1682-1756) excelled. The 'robin's-egg' glaze is generally thought to have been developed as a free interpretation of Song dynasty Jun glazes and reflects the contemporary interest in producing glazes that were both attractive in color but also innovative in their use of texture. The extraordinary effect of the robin's-egg glaze is achieved with the use of copper and arsenic as an opacifier to create an opaque stippled turquoise glaze. Tang Ying, in his Taocheng jishi bei ji (Commemorative Stele on Ceramic Production), cites the 'robin's-egg' glaze first in a list of the nineteen most popular types of wares for the Imperial Court.