Famille rose (French for "pink family") is a type of Chinese porcelain introduced in the 18th century and defined by pink overglaze enamel. It is a Western classification for Qing dynasty porcelain known in Chinese by various terms: fencai, ruancai, yangcai, and falangcai.[1] The colour palette is thought to have been brought to China during the reign of Kangxi (1654–1722) by Western Jesuits who worked at the palace, but perfected only in the Yongzheng era when the finest pieces were made, and famille rose ware reached the peak of its technical excellence during the Qianlong period.[2]
Although famille rose is named after its pink-coloured enamel, the colour may actually range from pale pink to deep ruby. Apart from pink, a range of other soft colour palettes are also used in famille rose. The gradation of colours was produced by mixing coloured enamels with 'glassy white' (玻璃白, boli bai), an opaque white enamel (lead arsenate). Its range of colour was further extended by mixing different colours.[3][4]
Famille rose was popular in the 18th and 19th century, and it continued to be made in the 20th century. Large quantities of famille rose porcelain were exported to Europe, United States and other countries, and many of these export wares were Jingdezhen porcelain decorated in Canton, and are known as "Canton famille rose". Porcelains with famille rose palette were also produced in European factories.
- ^ Valenstein, Suzanne G. (1988). A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 244. ISBN 978-0810911703.
- ^ Robertson, Iain (2015). Understanding Art Markets: Inside the World of Art and Business. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1135091934.
- ^ "Relationship between Falangcai, Yangcai, Fencai, and Famille rose". Koh Antique.
- ^ Yongxiang Lu, ed. (2014). A History of Chinese Science and Technology: Volume 2, Volume 2. Springer. p. 375. ISBN 978-3662441657.