Phu Lang Pottery: The Art of Eel Skin Enamel

Hart’s Selection of Unique Phu Lang Pottery

“Man is a Vessel of God’s Love, we have this Treasure in the Jars of Days, filled in the Beauty of Creation.”

At the end of the 14th century, after the last brown pottery kiln in Hai Duong had cooled down: (Van Yen, Kiep Bac, Chi Linh kilns), in the early 16th century in the Northern Delta, two Crockery Centres emerged. The big ones are Phu Lang (in Phu Lang commune, Que Vo district, Bac Ninh province) and Tho Ha (in Van Ha commune, Viet Yen district, Bac Giang).

Phu Lang Pottery began to appear at the beginning of the 14th century under the Tran Dynasty, originating from a Pottery Village called Phuc Khe, The name Phu Lang lasted until the end of the Tran Dynasty and the beginning of the New Le Dynasty becoming famous. Of all the famous Brown Earthenware Kilns in the Red River Delta, Phu Lang Brown Pottery Village is the only one that produces Glazed Brown Crockery.

Phu Lang Glazed Brown Pottery.

Phu Lang Village has 3 sides bordering the river: the East, North and West borders with Cau River, 4 km from Luc Dau Giang River to the South and 10 km from Bac Ninh town.

Phu Lang Brown Ceramic material is made of smooth, flexible, low residue clay, thick polished ceramic bone, which has good fire resistance at high temperatures of 1,000 to 1200 degrees Celsius without needing to be fired. Basically, Phu Lang's Brown Earthenware is decorated with Glaze. This Brown Glaze has a unique golden colour with two main colours: golden brown and dark brown, commonly known as "Eel Skin Enamel".

They stand out in modern living spaces. Phu Lang Eel Skin Enamel belongs to the type of ash glaze obtained from locally exploited natural materials. Including rice husk ash, mud (or earth powder) and rottenstone, ocher. It is this lipstick powder that creates the dark, light or speckled shades of Phu Lang Eel Skin Enamel.

The shape of Phu Lang's Glazed Brown Earthenware contains the primitive rustic beauty of the Earth and is perfect as sculptural art.

Phu Lang Eel Skin Enamel