Contemporary Jian Ware Artisan
Lü Mengfei (吕孟霏)
Lǚ Mèngfēi · Lv Mengfei · Jianyang, Fujian
Lü Mengfei (吕孟霏) is a contemporary Jian ware artisan from
Jianyang, Fujian, the historic center of Jian kiln production.
According to the biographical booklet accompanying her work, Lü grew up surrounded
by Jian ware culture, with earlier generations of her family involved in the
Jian ware industry. The booklet states that she began making Jian ware herself
in 2015.
Her work demonstrates a notably broad range of modern Jian ware glaze effects,
including dark crystalline surfaces, metallic oil-spot patterns, colorful
iridescent interiors, blue glazes and warm amber-toned surfaces.
Example of Lü Mengfei’s contemporary Jian ware.
Artist Profile
吕孟霏
Lǚ Mèngfēi
Lv Mengfei
Jianyang, Fujian
Jian Ware / 建盏
Since 2015*
*Beginning date is based on the artist biography supplied with her work.
Background
The artist biography supplied with Lü Mengfei’s work describes her as a native
of Jianyang and one of the comparatively small number of women working within
the contemporary Jian ware field.
It states that she became interested in Jian ware culture from childhood and
was influenced by a family tradition in which her grandparents’ and parents’
generations were involved in the Jian ware industry.
In 2015, Lü began working directly in Jian ware production.
Her accompanying materials describe her approach as one centered on continued
creation, experimentation and preservation of Jian ware culture.
Selected Work
The following photographs document examples of work attributed to Lü Mengfei
and accompanying artist materials.
Maker’s Mark
Examples photographed with Lü Mengfei’s work show an impressed maker’s mark
on the unglazed foot.
Documenting marks is particularly useful for collectors because packaging,
certificates and retail descriptions can become separated from a piece over time.
The mark should be considered together with provenance and accompanying materials
rather than used alone as proof of authenticity.
Packaging & Documentation
Known examples of Lü Mengfei’s work have appeared with artist-branded packaging
and a printed collection certificate or biographical booklet.
Artist Biography Booklet
The accompanying booklet provides a short biography, an award chronology and
an artist statement. It is an important primary source for understanding how
Lü Mengfei presents her own career, although individual claims should still be
compared against contemporary competition or institutional records where possible.
Works Named in Artist Materials
Fan Xing · Stars
Jin Mudan · Golden Peony
Fan Xing · Ye · Starry Night
Cai Xia · Rosy Clouds
Hong Lu Dian Xue
Modern Jian Kiln Partridge-Feather Bowl
Modern Jian Kiln Oil-Spot Bowl
Awards & Collection History
The following chronology is recorded in Lü Mengfei’s accompanying artist
booklet. It should be read as artist-documented career information
unless an individual result is independently confirmed by another source.
September 2017
The booklet records 《繁星》 (Fan Xing) as receiving a
Gold Award at the First Jian Kiln and Jian Ware Cultural Expo, associated with
the Ninth Straits Forum.
September 2017
《金牡丹》 (Golden Peony) is recorded as receiving a Gold
Award in Jianyang’s first “我有匠心” Jian ware competition.
July 2018
《繁星·夜》 (Starry Night) is recorded as receiving a Silver
Award in a “中艺杯” competition associated with the Sixth
China International Cultural Industry Expo.
September 2018
The booklet records 《彩霞》 (Rosy Clouds) as receiving a
Gold Award in the “工艺精品奖” selection at the Second Jian Kiln and Jian Ware
Cultural Expo. See the research note below regarding this entry.
March 2019
The booklet states that 《红炉点雪》 (Hong Lu Dian Xue)
was collected by a museum in Xi’an. An independent online collection record has
not yet been located.
April 2020
The booklet records 《现代建窑鹧鸪斑盏》 as receiving a
Silver Award in Nanping’s “南艺杯” arts and crafts competition.
The date requires further verification.
October 2021
《现代建窑油滴斑盏》 is recorded as receiving a Gold Award
in the Fourth Fujian “闽艺杯” Ceramic Creative Design Competition.
March 2022
The booklet records 《红炉点雪》 as receiving a Gold Award
in a Fujian “争艳杯” arts and crafts competition. The date requires further
verification.
Artist’s Statement
Lü Mengfei’s collection certificate presents Jian ware as a link between modern
people and historic civilization. Her statement emphasizes that each bowl is
the result of years of continued creation and experimentation.
She describes perseverance and maintaining one’s original purpose as essential
qualities of the craftsperson and identifies herself as part of a new generation
carrying Jian ware culture forward.
Research & Verification Notes
2017 First Jian Kiln and Jian Ware Cultural Expo:
The event itself is independently documented. Contemporary reporting confirms
that the Ninth Straits Forum · First Jian Kiln and Jian Ware (Jianyang) Cultural
Expo was held in Jianyang from September 29 to October 2, 2017.
2018 Second Jian Kiln and Jian Ware Cultural Expo:
Contemporary reporting states that seven works received Gold Awards in the
event’s “工艺精品奖” selection and identifies those seven works by name.
《彩霞》 is not included in that published list.
The reason for the discrepancy with Lü Mengfei’s booklet is currently unknown.
2020 “南艺杯” entry:
Other published artist records describe April 2021 as the first Nanping
“南艺杯” Arts and Crafts Competition. This suggests that the 2020 date printed
in Lü Mengfei’s booklet may be incorrect, although further documentation is needed.
2021 Fourth “闽艺杯”:
The Fourth Fujian “闽艺杯” Jian ware and celadon ceramic creative-design
competition is independently documented as taking place in Jianyang in 2021,
with more than 500 submitted works and Gold, Silver and Bronze awards selected.
A complete independently searchable result confirming Lü’s individual entry has
not yet been located.
2022 “争艳杯” entry:
The 11th Fujian Arts and Crafts “争艳杯” competition was held in 2021,
while official government documentation places the 12th competition in 2023.
For that reason, the booklet’s March 2022 date should not yet be treated as
independently verified.
Titles & Credentials
No government record has yet been located confirming Lü Mengfei as an officially
designated national, provincial, municipal or district-level representative
inheritor of intangible cultural heritage.
For this reason, Fifty Shades of Clay currently describes her simply as a
contemporary Jian ware artisan rather than assigning an official
heritage or master title that has not been independently documented.
References
-
Lü Mengfei artist biography and collection certificate.
Primary artist material photographed with a documented example of her work.
The booklet is reproduced above and is the principal source for her biography
and personal award chronology. -
China News Service — First Jian Kiln and Jian Ware Cultural Expo, 2017.
福建建盏文化展神韵
-
Taipei City Government Open Data — Ninth Straits Forum / First Jian Kiln and Jian Ware Cultural Expo.
Event participation report
-
Hong Kong Commercial Daily — Second Jian Kiln and Jian Ware Cultural Expo award results, 2018.
7件建盏大师作品在第二届建窑建盏文化博览会上斩获金奖
-
Southeast Net — Fourth Fujian “闽艺杯” Jian Ware & Celadon Ceramic Creative Design Competition, 2021.
福建省第四届闽艺杯（建盏、青瓷）陶瓷创意设计大赛在建阳区圆满落幕
-
Fujian Daily — 11th Fujian Arts and Crafts “争艳杯,” 2021.
“争艳杯”评选结果揭晓
-
Fujian Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology — 12th “争艳杯,” 2023.
第十二届福建省工艺美术精品“争艳杯”大赛
-
Xi’an Museum official website.
西安博物院
Consulted while researching the collection claim in Lü Mengfei’s booklet.
An online collection record for 《红炉点雪》 has not yet been located.
Fifty Shades of Clay Research Note:
This profile is maintained as an independent collector resource. Artist-issued
biographies and certificates are valuable primary sources, but titles, awards,
museum collections and official heritage designations are independently checked
where published records are available. Where a claim has not yet been verified,
the source and uncertainty are stated openly.
Photographs on this page were supplied to Fifty Shades of Clay for documentation
of Lü Mengfei’s work, maker’s mark, packaging and accompanying materials.