Powder blue
Powder blue became popular on porcelains in the Kangxi reign. The cobalt blue was according to literary sources "blown onto the surface of the unfired porcelain body through a tube with gauze over the end". The effect, when fired, was of a deep, finely mottled or soufflé blue. In some cases the blue covered the whole piece, in others, panels were reserved in white and decorated with over-glaze enamels in a second firing. The powder blue surface was often embellished with gold designs that more often then not have worn off.
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