Rice grain pattern

[peterp]

How is the so-called rice grain porcelain pattern made?

First of all, the name is misleading. The pattern has nothing to do with rice grains.
What appears like the shape of rice grains are simply holes in the clay wall of porcelain items where the clay was removed. These are then filled with glaze, so that they become translucent after firing. This pattern is predominantly found in tea wares, small bowls and dishes.

This decoration started to appear in the late 18th century, during the Qianlong reign it seems. Antiques with this pattern that are older than the early 20th century are few. Items with this pattern are still being produced today! The large majority of such items for sale on the market are hardly more than a few decades old.