Celadon Jar with Bowstring Patterns

Proto-porcelain, which has a glaze of greenish tinge, appeared during the Shang dynasty. Developing from stoneware with pressed décor, it was a transitional product from pottery to porcelain. The celadon firing temperature is lower than that of porcelain. Most pots were built using the coil method, and were finished with a thin layer of glaze, but the colour of this glaze was not consistent. It differs from the basic characteristics of pottery, and at the same time the techniques are still primitive in comparison to later porcelain.