Biography

Lu Guowei (卢国伟), born in November 1957 and rooted in Shuiji, Jianyang, is a contemporary Jian Zhan maker associated with the modern revival of traditional black-glazed Jian ware. He began studying ceramic production at the Jianyang Ceramics Factory in 1982 and spent the following years experimenting with local materials and firing methods.

Oil-Drop Revival

Published biographies place an important breakthrough in July 1993, when Lu successfully produced an imitation Jian-ware oil-drop bowl. This corrects the older page’s 1983 date. A work from the same period was acquired by a Japanese collector, and Lu continued to develop additional Jian Zhan glaze families afterward.

Glazes & Works

Lu’s documented repertoire includes hare’s fur 兔毫, oil drop 油滴, partridge spot 鹧鸪斑, tiger-skin spot 虎皮斑, Yaobian 曜变, pearl-spot surfaces, watermelon-flower, banana-leaf, Tianmu-leaf, gold-character bowls and gold-dot oil-drop work.

Pearl spot is especially associated with his later work, using pale rounded crystalline markings against a dark glaze.

Recognition

Lu received a ceramic arts-and-crafts professional title in 2014 and was named in 2015 as a municipal-level representative inheritor of Jian kiln/Jian Zhan firing technique. Documented award results include recognition for 金点油滴, 珍珠斑, 金鹧鸪斑盏, 铁锈斑 and 七彩银毫 between 2014 and 2015.

Marks & Identification

Documented attributed pieces use the maker’s Chinese name as a base mark. Complete vessel, base, certificate and packaging photographs provide the strongest identification context.

References