What made Dehua porcelain famous during the Ming dynasty?

Dehua porcelain became famous during the Ming dynasty after white ceramic figures from Fujian reached ports across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Dehua porcelain carried a pale ivory tone that European collectors later called “Blanc de Chine.” Kilns near Dehua County worked with local clay that held very low iron content, giving finished wares a soft white surface rather than a grey tint. Trade records from the late 1500s mention thousands of ceramic pieces leaving Fujian each year through maritime routes linked with Quanzhou. Dehua porcelain gained strong demand among Dutch merchants during the 17th century. Wealthy families in Amsterdam displayed Guanyin figures beside silverware and imported lacquer. One Guanyin statue from around 1630 sold at auction in London during 2018 for more than €120,000. European factories later copied the style. Early Meissen sculptors studied imported Dehua figures before German hard-paste porcelain entered mass production during the 1700s. Many collectors value Dehua porcelain for its smooth glaze, calm facial carving, and light reflection.