Are you fascinated by the blue and white aesthetics of these porcelain?

As we continue to celebrate the #MuseumsAndGalleriesMonth, this week’s #MaritimeMonday features the blue pigment on porcelain and its significance throughout the history.

The color blue was notably absent among the earliest pigments used in pre-history, as naturally occurring blue pigments are rare and can only be mined on deposits that are difficult to access. Lapis Lazuli and Azurite were among the first known sources of mineral blue pigment and were considered highly valuable and expensive, due to their rarity and importance.

The shortage of blue pigments from natural resources prompted the manufacture of synthetic blue pigments. These artificial pigments were made from readily accessible raw materials and were less expensive than the mineral pigments. The significance of blue color increased as the Chinese blue and white porcelain became a popular commodity worldwide. This was evidenced by the number of blue and whites found along the maritime trade routes, including the shipwrecks in the Philippines dated from 14th to 18th centuries Common Era (CE). Examples of shipwrecks with blue and white porcelain on their cargos are the Pandanan (15th century CE), Santa Cruz (15th century CE), and San Diego (16th century CE).

Cobalt blue decoration derived from cobalt oxide was discovered to be the most stable pigment when fired at high temperatures of 1200 to 1350 °C, which is required in producing porcelain. This yielded a striking, permanent bright blue design on the white surface. The scarcity of stable natural blue pigments attributed to the glamour status of blue color of these porcelain. Persia, present-day Iran, is a well-known source of cobalt ores in early times. There were also reported sources from China, Iraq, and Sumatra during the Medieval Period (c. 5th–15th century CE). The cobalt blue pigment used in different periods also vary in composition. Other known blue pigments used were ultramarine, Egyptian blue, Han blue, Maya blue, and Prussian blue.

Your #NationalMuseumPH is now open to the public. You may see and appreciate these blue and white porcelain at the ‘300 Years of Maritime Trade in the Philippines’ exhibition at the 2nd floor hallway gallery of the National Museum of Anthropology. To book a slot, please visit our website at www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph and click ‘Book A Tour’. Remember to #KeepSafe by practicing minimum health protocols while viewing our galleries.  You may also experience the virtual tour of the exhibit by clicking on this link: https://tinyurl.com/300YearsOfMaritimeTradePH

#BlueAndWhitePorcelain

#MuseumFromHome

#MGM2021

#BeatCOVID19

Text and poster by the NMP Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Division
©National Museum of the Philippines (2021)

As your #NationalMuseumPH joins the observance of #BatWeek, we want to share with you a small amazing bat that provides an awesome service to our planet.

The Lesser Long-tongued Bat (Macroglossus minimus) is a small bat with about 65-78 mm length and 14-20 g weight. It has a narrow muzzle long tongue, hence its English name. It has large eyes compared to other small bats and has canines that are slender and sharp.

This native bat is found throughout the Philippines and in almost every habitat. They are usually observed in mangrove areas, along streams in the forests, and in agricultural areas. This nectarivore (an animal that feeds on nectar and pollen) bat is an important pollinator of bat-loving (chiropterophilous) plants in the mangrove. The flowers of these plants are usually white or pale in color and have a very strong scent so the bats can easily locate them in the dark.

The bat’s long and slender snout is well adapted for feeding on the nectar of flowers. At night while humans are in slumber, the bat makes its trip to the wooded areas where flowers of chiropterophilous plants are in bloom. They probe their narrow mouth to the funnel shaped flowers and feed on the nectar. This kind of feeding behavior contributes to the regrowth of vegetation in the forests and other wooded areas.

Text and images by the NMP Zoology Division

©National Museum of the Philippines (2021)