DC Inspiration, Chinese Craftsmanship, Part II

Bo and Alison Jia created Middle Kingdom 10 years ago as an attempt to shine a spotlight on China’s fine artisanship. The “Made in China” brand was synonymous with low-end products, Bo says. “We wanted to build a brand that’s high end, like Royal Copenhagen. I don’t know how long it takes to get there, but we’re trying.”

By most accounts, they are there. Walk through the Ritz-Carlton, Park Hyatt or Mandarin Oriental in DC, and you will see their porcelain. If you’re on a trip to Las Vegas and stay at the Wynn, you’ll see more of it. Their works grace the homes of such notables as Vice President Dick Cheney, Harrison Ford, Jennifer Lopez, former Sen. Tom Daschle, and Robert de Niro. The Jias also have a fairly thick album of magazine layouts featuring their products.

Their vases, bowls, jars, and cups are so enticing because of the detailed process that goes into making them. Bo goes to their kiln in China several times a year to oversee a staff of almost 40 potters and artisans who produce the Middle Kingdom lines. The site of the kiln – Jing de Zhen – is inspirational in itself as the location of the original imperial kilns reserved for China’s emperors going back 1,000 years. “The only people who go there are real ceramics aficionados,” Alison says.

Every color you see on a piece represents a different trip through the kiln. So 10 colors on an intricate painting means a vase went back 10 times. To achieve either a shiny or matte gloss means careful control over the kiln’s temperature – without any help from computers. That’s because the Jias want their process to be more akin to the European “workshop” style of producing artisanal goods rather than a big assembly-line manufacturer.


They are currently preparing to market their newest lines to designers and retailers at this year’s New York International Gift Fair, which begins next week. Here’s a sneak peek at the new stuff, which includes the Audubon theme you see in pieces above, and chalky matte colors below in blue and black.