Selection and Appreciation of Jianzhan

1. How to accurately distinguish the authenticity of Jianzhan

        In the industry, the standards for identifying the authenticity of Jianzhan have been clearly defined. Among them, the most crucial is the principle of "no iron tire, no building lamp". This standard is not only widely used in the identification of Jianzhan, but also the core of distinguishing true and false Jianzhan.

        Firstly, we need to understand the color characteristics of the bottom tire of Jianzhan. Generally speaking, the bottom tire of Jianzhan should appear dark black or gray black, and both the inner and outer tires must meet this standard. Secondly, by tapping the construction lamp, a sound similar to metal collision will be produced, which is also an important method to distinguish between real and fake construction lamps. Furthermore, the bottom design of the lamp should appear rough in order for it to have good breathability and insulation. Finally, it is worth noting that the soil used to make Jianzhan must come from the Shuiji area of Jianyang, Fujian Province, which is a key factor in ensuring the quality of Jianzhan.

 

2. How to choose a building lamp

        The primary task when selecting a lamp is to understand its classification. After mastering classification knowledge, one can make precise choices based on personal preferences and needs.

â—‡ Classification of colors and patterns for building lamps

        The color and pattern of Jianzhan are its unique charm. According to its characteristics, it can be roughly divided into five categories: rabbit hair, oil droplets, partridge spots, obsidian, and variegated glaze. Among them, rabbit hair features are obvious, linear and radial, and clearly visible. Mastering these categories helps us to more accurately select lighting fixtures that match our personal preferences.

        The characteristic of oil droplet lamps is that their patterns are distributed in dots, which is an important difference from other types of lamps. In ancient times, this pattern was not subdivided into golden and silver oil droplets. However, with the innovation of intangible cultural heritage inheritors, golden oil droplets emerged. In order to better distinguish them, the classification of golden and silver oil droplets appeared.

      The patterns of the partridge are distributed in an egg like pattern, layer by layer, resembling a high-end version of oil droplets.

      The beauty of Yao Bian lies in the deep black droplets in its cup, surrounded by colorful hues, like sparkling stars in the night sky.

        In the variegated glaze, colors such as tea foam, black gold, gray shell, and persimmon red interweave, adding richer layers and beauty to the Yao Bian. In the dazzling world of variegated glazes, the four patterns of oil droplets, partridges, rabbit hair, and obsidian are particularly eye-catching in the construction of lamps. The metamorphosis effect of these varieties can only be presented at temperatures above 1300 degrees Celsius. However, their production rates vary, with rabbit hair having a relatively high production rate, followed by oil droplets, partridges, and the most valuable being Yaobian.

â—‡ Type classification

        The key to the beam opening lies in the beam opening line, and any changes below it are classified as beam openings. Shukouzhan, with its unique shape and rich variations, stands out among numerous architectural lanterns. Small and medium-sized vessels are common types of bundle mouth lamps, which not only have high representativeness, but also are one of the most produced varieties in the construction of lamps, with a large number of unearthed and passed down products.

        The key to a closed mouth lies in the tendency of its mouth edge to converge inward. Regardless of the height, weight, or thinness of the object, as long as it possesses this characteristic, it can be classified as a closed mouth.

        Skirting refers to the tendency of the mouth edge of an object to curl outward. Skirt cups can be divided into three types in size: large, medium, and small, with a relatively high proportion of large cups in the construction of cups. However, due to the difficulty of production and low yield rate, these large skim cups are particularly precious. In contrast, small and medium-sized skimming cups are more common.

        The open design features a mouth edge that opens upwards, resembling a bamboo hat when inverted, giving it a unique style. In terms of size, small and medium-sized open mouth cups are more common, while large ones are relatively rare.

â—‡ Difference between diesel burning and electric burning

        When it comes to the firing method of Jianzhan, we cannot help but mention the use of wood burning and electric burning. These two firing methods have greatly affected the price of Jianzhan. Against the backdrop of technological advancements, the widespread use of electric stoves has made electric firing possible. Its temperature controlled characteristics have led to high yield rates, resulting in relatively affordable prices. By comparison, the yield of wood burning products is only 10%, and its high cost naturally drives up the price of building lamps.

        Observing gloss is an effective method. The environment inside the electric firing kiln is relatively clean, with no dust accumulation, so the surface of the fired lamp is smooth and has a certain glossiness, sometimes even emitting a "thief light". During the process of burning firewood, the wood ash will naturally fall onto the building cup and go through the firing process together with the building cup, which gives the fired building cup a deep texture.

        Observe the embryo drawing process. Machine embryo drawing has the characteristics of high yield and labor-saving. Its products have rounded mouth, fewer defects, uniform wall thickness, and can be felt to be consistent when touched. However, this technique lacks the uniqueness and precision of handmade production. In contrast, manual embryo drawing pays more attention to the precision of embryo repair, and each piece is unique. Although the cost is higher, it is more favored by the wood burning process.

        Overall, the shape of the Jianzhan vessel is kept quite regular without any significant deformation. Iron tire is one of the important features of Jianzhan, ensuring its unique texture. Under the same size, handmade molded cups have a heavier weight and a heavier feel. Observing the bottom of the tire, the hand pulled embryo will leave obvious turning marks, while the machine made ones are relatively flat. However, it is worth noting that this is not absolute, as some machine products can also achieve similar effects through trimming. As for the patterns on the Jianzhan, they are formed by the flow of glaze caused by the increase in kiln temperature, and each Jianzhan's pattern is unique.

        However, there are also some Jianzhan tires in the market with too light colors, lacking the essence that Jianzhan should have. This is often due to the use of makeup clay. The actual bottom of the tire should be black, and the color of the inner tube should also be consistent. In addition, although some Jianzhans have similar patterns to Jianyang Jianzhans, their prices are exceptionally low. For consumers who only use it as a tea set, this may not be a big problem; But if you love Jianzhan culture and consider it as a collection of cultural relics, then you must be cautious when choosing. While enjoying tea, we should also learn to appreciate and appreciate the beauty of the vessel shape and the charm of the decoration of the cup.