Lapis lazuli is an age-old material in China, having a history of over 2400 years. It was used exclusively by the imperial family. As there were extremely high requirements on the hierarchy of the users, this material was hardly seen in the folk life. Lapis lazuli is a kind of low-temperature colored glaze used to decorate porcelain in Shanxi Province in ancient China. It appeared in the Warring States Period and became more popular in Sui, Tang and Liao Dynasties. Baking of lapis lazuli was still carried out in the Ming Dynasty. Lapis lazuli ware is usually made by two rounds of firing, namely, pure padding is treated with colored glaze after being fired, and then fired with low-temperature glaze. Lapis lazuli products are used in imperial buildings (e.g. lapis lazuli tile) as well as in mausoleum screen walls, religious temples, worship offerings in stupas, utensils and adornments in the early Ming Dynasty. It has been appraised as the top ware in the five famous Chinese wares (bullion, jade, lapis lazuli, porcelain and bronze ware) and one of the seven Buddhist treasures.
Chinese lapis lazuli is a perfect combination of ancient Chinese culture and modern art. Featuring brilliance and magnificence, it symbolizes exquisiteness, delicacy and implicative connotation of the easterners. It is an integration of emotion and art.
As the number of porcelain collectors is growing in recent years, ancient lapis lazuli products have been increasingly valued. Since lapis lazuli products made in the early age can hardly be found and those made in the Ming Dynasty have become rare, antiques of lapis lazuli have become "precious articles" of many collectors. By contrast, modern lapis lazuli products are endowed with more intense complex. Infused with passions in modern life, they have become decorative articles of many people. The mood of girls is sometimes compared to lapis lazuli.
