16 pieces of porcelain from Dingzhou Kiln Museum were unveiled at the 2026 Sino-Italian Ceramic Art Exhibition

China News Service, Beijing, November 14 (Reporter Ying Ni) "Porcelain Charm Without Borders: From Perugia to Beijing - 2026 Sino-Italian Ceramic Art Exhibition" opened at the China Millennium Monument in Beijing on the 13th. The Dingzhou Kiln Museum selected 16 porcelains for the exhibition, including 5 ancient Dingzhou Kiln porcelains from the Tang Dynasty and 11 enamel-colored porcelain paintings in the style of Castiglione from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty.

Exhibition opening scene. Photo provided by the organizer

The five Dingzhou kiln wares cover white porcelain, black glaze, tea powder glaze, celadon glaze, shadow celadon glaze, etc., and showcase the mature and diverse porcelain making skills of Dingzhou kiln. The 11 pieces of Castiglione's porcelain paintings are all enamel-colored porcelain from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. The types of porcelain include general jars, plum vases, celestial sphere vases, deer head statues, and large plates. They combine the style of Western realistic painting with the characteristics of palace imperial porcelain that blends traditional Chinese poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seals. They are a vivid carrier of the integration of Chinese and Western cultures on ceramics in the Qing Dynasty.

Among them, the Qing Dynasty Qianlong enamel Flower and Bird Poetry General Jar is 67 cm high and 36 cm wide. It is dignified and majestic in shape and is covered with enamel. According to experts, the jar follows the realistic painting style of Castiglione, with ancient trees, flowers, and birds residing in Ganoderma lucidum. The picture is rich in layers and rich in color. The shoulders, neck and near the bottom are decorated with golden Ruyi patterns and fretboards. On the back of the jar, there are imperial flower poems inscribed with the inscription "Gracefully painted by Lang Shining". Poetry, calligraphy, painting and porcelain are integrated into one. It is a representative imperial porcelain for palace furnishings during the Qianlong period.

Qing Dynasty Qianlong enamel flower and bird poetry general jar. Photo provided by the organizer

It is understood that in recent years, the Dingzhou Kiln Museum has continued to use Castiglione's art as a link, using precious ancient ceramic objects to present the local porcelain making context of the Dingzhou Kiln of the Tang Dynasty and the Chinese and Western fusion porcelain painting art of the Qing Dynasty palace on the same stage. It has actively participated in Sino-Italian cultural exchanges and provided a profound annotation of the ancient Chinese ceramics context for the ceramic cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The exhibition was hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Perugia Provincial Government of Italy. More than 100 people from relevant departments, local governments, culture, enterprises and other fields of China and Italy, as well as diplomats from many countries stationed in China, attended the opening ceremony. The exhibition will last until November 22.