A Technological Study of Chinese Porcelain of the Yuan Dynasty

Optical and scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis and X‐ray diffraction are used to determine the composition and microstructure of the bodies and glazes of Chinese porcelain of the Yuan dynasty from Jingdezhen, as well as samples of porcelain‐stone and glaze‐stone from the same region. The original mineralogical compositions of the porcelain bodies and glazes are estimated. The results indicate that the yingqing porcelain bodies were made using a kaolinised porcelain‐stone whereas the underglaze blue porcelain bodies were prepared by the addition of kaolin to a kaolinite‐free porcelain‐stone. In both cases, the glazes were made by mixing ‘glaze‐ash’ (i.e. lime) with the porcelain stone used to make the bodies.