The Tradition · Qing Dynasty · Tongzhi
1862 – 1874
Reconstruction after the Taiping. Imperial wedding wares. A brief revival.
Historical Context
The Tongzhi period saw the partial reconstruction of Jingdezhen after the Taiping destruction, and a renewal of imperial commissions. The most significant production of the reign was associated with the emperor's marriage in 1872 — an enormous suite of imperial porcelain produced for the wedding, characterised by bright enamels and auspicious decoration.
These wedding wares gave the period its most distinctive identity. Blue-and-white continued alongside enamelled production, generally following established Qing typologies. Tongzhi marks a recovery, but not a return to the heights of Kangxi-Yongzheng-Qianlong.
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Representative Forms
穿带瓶
Bottle & Vase Form
花盆
Decorative Form
龙凤磗
Bowls & Serving Form
Selected Works
Period Position
Tongzhi marks the first post-Taiping restoration — kilns rebuilt, production resumed, but the continuity of craft knowledge was fractured. For Blue Fir, Tongzhi wares require careful reading: genuine imperial pieces exist alongside a rapid expansion of commercial production that can obscure quality distinctions.