Longtan kiln museum opens in Quzhou's Kaihua

The Longtan Kiln Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum opened to the public in Xiayu village, Yinkeng township, Kaihua county, Quzhou, on Nov 15.

The archaeological excavation of the Longtan blue-and-white porcelain kiln, which dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was recognized as one of the Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries in Zhejiang in 2017.

The Longtan Kiln Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum was included in this year's second batch of rural museums in Zhejiang. It will help pass on this intangible cultural heritage item and serve as a cultural showcase.

The new piece of Longtan porcelain is displayed at the Longtan Kiln Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum. [Photo/WeChat ID:khfbwx]

After the opening ceremony, a new piece of Longtan porcelain was unveiled, enticing visitors to explore the secrets of the Longtan kiln. The body of this porcelain artifact features lotus leaf patterns of celadon porcelain, while the top and bottom are adorned with blue-and-white patterns drawn with cobalt from Zhejiang, known as "Zhejiang Blue".

In discussions between experts and scholars from the fields of archaeology, ceramic arts, and crafts, it was suggested that the Longtan kiln is currently the oldest known kiln to use "Zhejiang Blue" for firing blue-and-white porcelain.