Painted pottery and black pottery featuring fine craftsmanship we reproduced in China as early as the Neolithic age. Next to come was glazed earthenware, which first appeared in the Shang Dynasty (16th to11th centuries BC). 

Porcelain making attained a high level of popularity much later during the Sung Dynasty (960 to 1279 AD) and burst out in many splendor colors during the Ming (1368 to 1644 AD) and Ching (1644 to 1911 AD) dynasties. During these dynasties, blue and white porcelain, colored glazes and enamel over glaze decoration became famous. 

With raw material readily available, the potter's craft has flourished in every part of China, with each production center turning out wares with particular local characteristics and artistic style. 

Ching Te Chen in Kangsi Province is known as Porcelain Town. It is there that pure white porcelain with a soft luster is decorated in blue and white. Ku tsai (translucent over glaze colors) or in fen tsai (opaque over glaze colors). Ching Te Chen ware is most famous for its colored glazes. 

Porcelain made in Liling, Hunan Province, is noted for under glaze painting executed in a unique graceful style. Kilns at Tehhue in Fukien Province turn out creamy white porcelain for household use, as well as for figurines with distinctive features.

Yixing in Kiangsu Province has developed a reputation as Pottery Town because of its production of fine terra cotta pottery in buff, bluish green, white, brown and other colors. Yixing's most famous pottery, however, are its dark brown teapots which are attractively fashioned in fanciful folk forms.

The pottery of Shihwan in Kwantung Province is characterized by its solid shapes and unpretentious modeling. Shihwan's pottery figurines as - known as Mud men - are by far the most popular. Shihwan potters achieve their unique effect by dexterously combining glazes in many colors with clay left in it natural tint. 

Jung Chang in Szechuan Province is another famous pottery center, best known for its pickling jars. At Man-U Imports, all the famous pottery styles of China are available for your viewing pleasure and acquisition.

While most of our customers are private collectors and dealers, we're proud to be also contributing to the hospitality at some of the country's major hotels. We just recently provided more than 700 lamps to the Omni Hotel in Houston and have also illuminated rooms for Omni in Washington D.C. and Chicago. Throughout the United States our lamps are lighting the way in quality hotels, such as the Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton and the Biltmore chains.

Customers often ask what they should use to maintain rosewood and other wood products, lacquer, jade, porcelain and cloisonne. We recommend regular maintenance with Natural Creamy Beeswax. 

After using and testing just about every product available, our experts recommend only Natural Creamy Beeswax, from Essex, England. Man-U Imports customers can purchase a 250 ml jar for just $12.95 plus tax and call for freight charges. 

Natural Creamy Beeswax gives a wonderful finish without a greasy, waxy feeling. You will be pleasantly surprised that dust does not stick to the furniture's when spray polish is used.