Further study of sources of the imported cobalt-blue pigment used on Jingdezhen porcelain from late 13 to early 15 centuries

Abstract

Based on the conclusion of modern scientific analysis: the cobalt-blue pigment applied on Jingdezhen official porcelain during Yuan Dynasty and prior to Xuande reign of Ming Dynasty (1271–1425) contains high iron and low manganese contents, and the cobalt during Xuande and after Xuande periods (after 1426) of Ming Dynasty contains high manganese and low iron contents, in combination with the traditional archaeological method, the related historical textual records were investigated and analyzed, the imported cobalt employed on Jingdezhen official porcelain was studied comprehensively, systematically and logically. In fact, ‘Su Ma Li Qing’ (Samarra-blue) and ‘Su Bo Ni Qing’ (Sumatra-blue) are definitely different cobalt ores originated in different places, because of their very similar transliterations in Chinese, the confusion has appeared in ancient books for more than 400 years, which considered ‘Su Ma Li Qing’ and ‘Su Bo Ni Qing’ as the same cobalt-blue pigment. In this article the mistake was corrected, the possible producing places and the approximate eras of the two pigments imported to China and used at Jingdezhen were also suggested.