INTRODUCTION
Shiwan, a neighbourhood in Foshan, Guangdong Province, has been a centre of ceramic production since the mid-Ming dynasty. One of the most striking features of Shiwan pottery is its vibrant and varied glazes. Ranging from classic white, green, and blue to the innovative pomegranate red, these glazes add great visual appeal to the ceramic pieces, further complementing their simple and plain modelling, which embodies the overall charm of Lingnan culture. Characterised by ‘the glaze not concealing the body’, potters use coloured glazes to decorate the figures’ clothing while the faces and limbs retain the original colour of the ceramic body itself, enhancing the figures’ lifelike quality. In terms of subject matter, Shiwan potters often draw inspiration from folk legends and operatic stories, historical icons, ordinary people, and foreigners, reflecting influences of an ever-changing society and the region’s cultural inclusiveness.
The Macao Museum of Art’s collection of Shiwan ceramics, originally belonging to Portuguese collector Manuel da Silva Mendes (1867 – 1931), stands as a testament to the profound dialogue between Shiwan ceramic art and Western sculptural art. In 1920, Silva Mendes invited the renowned Shiwan ceramic artist Pan Yushu to Macao, commissioning him to create innovative works, such as the celebrated ‘Hua Tuo’ and ‘Lu Yu’ pieces. By incorporating Western realism into Chinese traditions, Pan’s works opened up new, exciting horizons for Shiwan ceramics and marked a significant milestone in the fusion of Western and Eastern sculptural languages.