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Jiang Rong, known as the "Matriarch of Zisha Pottery," was a master of Chinese Arts and Crafts, one of the "Seven Grandmasters of Zisha," and the first female craft artist in the history of Zisha pottery, specializing in floral vessel creations. She held the honorary position of director at the Jiangsu Provincial Arts and Crafts Association.
Jiang Rong (1919-2008), also known by her pseudonym Lin Feng, was born in Luolin, Chuanbu, Yixing City, Jiangsu Province. In 1995, she was awarded the title of Chinese Arts and Crafts Master. Jiang Rong's works are renowned in the history of Zisha pottery for their exquisite technique, vividness, and unique style, making her the first female master in this field. She was a member of the China Artists Association, a committee member of the China Craft Design Association, and an honorary director of the Jiangsu Arts and Crafts Association.
Her works have been awarded the "Special Prize" at national industrial conferences and were made as gifts for Premier Zhou Enlai's visits to Southeast Asian countries. In 1956, the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government appointed her as a "Technical Instructor" for Zisha pottery, a position of high honor and recognition in the crafts industry at the time.
Jiang Rong began her artistic journey at the age of 11, learning from her father Jiang Hongquan. In 1940, she was taken to Shanghai by her uncle Jiang Honggao to create antique-style Zisha wares and designed flower pots for the Yu Family Garden. She returned to her hometown in 1947. In 1955, she joined the Yixing Shushan Pottery Production Cooperative, where she created the Lotus Teapot and the Peony Teapot, among others. She crafted 20 sets of lifelike fruit products for Premier Zhou Enlai's overseas visits. In 1957, she made the Buddha Hand Teapot and experimented with slip casting techniques to improve efficiency and meet export demands. From 1973 onward, she created pottery works inspired by nature and everyday life, including the White Lotus Wine Set, Pipa Pen Holder, Frog Catching Insects Water Pot, and Tree Stump Pot.
Throughout her 70-year career in Zisha art, her representative works include the Lotus Teapot, Peony Teapot, Lotus Tea Set, Mango Teapot, Pumpkin Teapot, Lotus Root Wine Set, and Frog Catching Insects Water Pot. Her work, the Water Chestnut Teapot, is housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK. She also published a specialized thesis on Zisha pottery, titled "Learning from Nature and Drawing from Many Sources."
Jiang Rong was the longest-living artist in the Zisha pottery community, living to nearly 90 years old, and was affectionately known as "Grandma Bingxin of the Zisha World." In Taiwan, she was honored with the title "Matriarch of Zisha Pottery." Historians believe she elevated the art of Zisha floral vessels to new heights, making her an outstanding representative of this craft after Chen Mingyuan. Her works are elegant and realistic, each a unique piece of art. Collectors highly value her original works, and her artistic achievements are evident through the auction results of some of her pieces.
