The Maker · 李文鲜 · Est. 1972
A fifty-year obsession with a single shard of porcelain.
National Intangible Cultural Heritage · Selected 2014
Li Wenxian is the founder of the Wenxian Jiaotai workshop in Jiaozuo, Henan. For the past half-century he has devoted himself to a single pursuit: the recovery of a porcelain technique last seen in the Tang Dynasty — coloured clays twisted into a single cane, sliced to reveal the pattern within, fired into a body of marbled clay.
His workshop sits in a small courtyard at the foot of the Taihang Mountains, in the same province where the original Tang potters worked over a thousand years ago. The pieces that leave it — vases, bowls, teapots, scholars’ objects — are signed by his hand. Each one is unique. The work is slow. The patterns cannot be repeated.
This is the story of how that work began — with a single shard, and a man who could not put it down.
The discovery
I saw a shard in 1972, and again in 2003. I could no longer suppress the dream — I told the expert, I want to unearth this millennia-old technique.
— Li Wenxian, founder
years between the moment Li Wenxian first saw a Tang Dynasty shard of marbled porcelain and the year his own technique was named a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
His story, in eight chapters.
The Story
From a single shard in 1972
to a national heritage in 2014.
Forty-two years between the moment Li Wenxian first saw the pattern and the year it was named a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. A brief timeline.
A shard, a captivation
Li Wenxian sees a small piece of ancient porcelain at a friend’s house. He examines the edge and sees the pattern running from inside out — as if replicated. He is amazed that such skilled craftsmen existed in ancient times. The discovery of marbled porcelain sparks his future passion.
A second sighting
At the home of a ceramics enthusiast friend, Li Wenxian once again sees the long-desired marbled feather-patterned porcelain shard. The beautiful feather-patterned design remains etched in his mind.
A courtyard at the foot of the Taihang Mountains
Li Wenxian and his wife rent a small courtyard at the foot of the Taihang Mountains. They purchase and build a shuttle kiln, and acquire all the equipment necessary to make their own moulds.
First prize
He meets a group of local folk collectors of marbled porcelain and ceramic craftsmen, and begins a new round of firing experiments. In June, his marbled porcelain wins first prize at the first Central Plains Folk Art Festival.
Municipal heritage
The Wenxian Jiaotai porcelain making technique is named one of the first batch of intangible cultural heritages by the Jiaozuo Municipal People’s Government. The workshop is named the Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Reproduction (Jiaotai Porcelain) Research and Development Base.
Provincial heritage, diplomatic gift
The technique is named a Henan Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage. Wenxian Jiaotai porcelain products are selected as gifts for foreign countries by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
National heritage
The company is named a Henan Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Productive Protection Demonstration Base, and Li Wenxian’s jiaotai porcelain firing technique is selected as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Project.
Continuing the technique
The workshop produces a range of porcelain products using all of the traditional methods, and accepts bespoke commissions based around a customer’s choice of style, colours and requirements. Each piece is signed by Li Wenxian personally.
Bespoke Commissions
Continue the conversation
with the workshop.
Every commission is in dialogue with Li Wenxian and the workshop. Pattern, form, palette and scale all chosen together. International shipping arranged from Jiaozuo.
Begin a Commission →