Is Celadon More Green Or Blue?
What is Celadon?
Celadon refers to a type of ceramic glaze that results in a distinctive pale green or blue-green color. The name comes from the French word “céladon”, meaning greenish-blue, which is derived from the character Celadon in 17th century French novels who wore green clothes.
Celadon originated in China and became especially popular during the Song dynasty around the 10th to 12th centuries. The celadon glaze was developed by ancient Chinese potters by firing kaolin-rich clay at very high temperatures between 2,250-2,450°F. By controlling factors like the kiln atmosphere and thickness of the glaze layer, they learned to create the distinctive jade-like color and smooth surface.1
Chinese celadon ceramics were highly prized and were exported in large quantities along the Maritime Silk Road to regions like the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The technique later spread to Korea and Japan, where it evolved into unique regional styles. Celadon continues to be produced today, especially in China and Japan, retaining its reputation for elegance and beauty.
The Color Spectrum
The visible color spectrum is the range of electromagnetic wavelengths that the human eye is able to perceive. The spectrum of visible light ranges from wavelengths of approximately 380 to 750 nanometers (nm). The color perceived depends on the specific wavelength that hits the retina of the eye.
The longest wavelengths around 620-750 nm are perceived as reds, while the shortest wavelengths around 380-450 nm are seen as violets. Green colors have wavelengths of around 500-570 nm, falling in the middle of the visible spectrum. Blue wavelengths range from around 450-500 nm, just next to green.
So on the visible color spectrum, green and blue sit side by side, with green having a slightly higher wavelength than blue. Green is closer to yellow, while blue is closer to violet (Source: Visible Light Spectrum Overview, Frequency of Light).
Defining Green and Blue
Green is one of the three primary colors in the RGB color model, along with red and blue. The perception of green comes from light with wavelengths between 495-570 nm on the visible spectrum (Source: Wikipedia). Key characteristics of green include:
- Associated with nature, growth, renewal, and environment
- Considered a cool, calming color
- Evokes feelings of health, tranquility, and harmony
Blue is another primary color in the RGB model. It has wavelengths between 450-495 nm on the visible color spectrum (Source: Appypie). Key characteristics of blue include:
- Often associated with depth, stability, wisdom, confidence, and intelligence
- Considered a cool, calming color like green
- Can evoke feelings of trust, loyalty, and serenity
The Science of Color Perception
The human eye perceives color through cells in the retina called cones. There are three types of cones that are each sensitive to different wavelengths of light – short (blue), medium (green), and long (red). When light enters the eye, it stimulates the cones. The combination of cones stimulated creates all the colors we see.
However, color perception is highly subjective. While the mechanics of color vision are the same for everyone, how we interpret color can vary based on individual differences as well as cultural and linguistic influences. For example, some cultures make more color distinctions than others. The Himba tribe in Namibia only has five basic color terms compared to eleven in English. This impacts how they categorize and perceive colors.
Even within a culture, people may perceive colors differently based on language and learned associations. For instance, some people argue celadon contains more blue while others say it has more green. These individual differences in color perception demonstrate that color is not as objective as the mechanics of color vision may suggest.
Celadon Color Range
Celadon refers to a range of light greenish-blue hues. While it is often described as a greenish gray or blue-green, celadon can encompass various shades depending on factors like saturation and brightness.
According to Color-Register, the hex code for celadon is #ACE1AF. This represents the typical medium-light celadon shade. However, celadon colors can range from paler, grayish greens like #B0C4DE, to more saturated blue-greens like #7FFFD4.
Compared to pure green and blue hues, celadon is much softer and subdued. It lacks the vividness of emerald greens or azure blues. While celadon leans slightly more towards green, its low saturation gives it a muted, hazy quality. Overall, celadon offers a tranquil mix of bluish-green tones.
Psychology of Color Perception
The way people perceive color is influenced by various psychological factors. While the wavelength of light determines the actual color, how it is interpreted in the brain can vary between individuals and cultures.
Studies have shown that cultural associations influence how people describe and categorize colors. For example, in Western cultures, blue is often seen as a calming, cool color, while green evokes feelings of nature and renewal. However, in some Asian cultures, green can represent life but also toxicity or envy. These associations stem from myths, traditions, and common usages of colors within different societies over time.
Additionally, physical differences in people’s eyes and optic nerves, as well as conditions like color blindness, affect how the retina processes color. For example, people with red-green color deficiency may have difficulty distinguishing between shades of green and blue as their cone cells that detect these wavelengths are less sensitive. This leads to subjective differences in how they perceive celadon’s hue.
Overall, the psychology and physiology of human color vision leads to variation between individuals and cultures when identifying and interpreting colors. This must be considered when analyzing people’s perceptions of whether celadon leans more green or blue.
Sources:
The psychology of color perception in marketing
The Psychology of Color Perception
Analyzing Celadon’s Hue
Celadon has a complex hue that can range from grayish pale green to greenish pale blue depending on factors like temperature and glaze composition during firing (ArtinContext). Technically speaking, celadon’s hue falls between green and blue on the color wheel, often leaning more towards green. According to the RGB color model, typical celadon glaze colors have higher green values (around 150-180) compared to blue values (around 120-140) (DerekAu).
When comparing celadon side-by-side with pure green and blue hues, subtle differences emerge. Greens like sage and olive have a more dominant yellow undertone compared to celadon. Meanwhile, celadon contains less of the vivid intensity of primary blues like cerulean or azure. The muted tone of celadon is a mix of blue and green in more balanced proportions, resulting in a pastel teal or seafoam shade.
While celadon can shift towards green or blue depending on various factors, its defining characteristic is a blend of the two hues in a softened or desaturated form. The interplay between green and blue sets celadon apart as its own distinct tone. Analyzing celadon’s technical specifications and visual comparisons confirms its place between green and blue on the color spectrum.
Celadon Throughout History
Celadon has been produced and valued across many cultures and time periods. The technique of firing porcelain in oxidizing kilns to produce a greenish-blue glaze first emerged in ancient China during the Han Dynasty around the 2nd century AD.1 Celadon ware became enormously popular in China and was also exported in large quantities to Korea, Japan, and many parts of Southeast Asia. Its mysterious green-blue color was highly prized.
In Korea during the Goryeo period (918-1392), celadon was elevated to an art form and Korean celadon was renowned for its elegant shapes and jade-like color. The technique spread to Japan where it developed distinct regional variations. Throughout many Asian cultures, celadon symbolized tranquility, spirituality, and nobility due to the resemblance to jade.
In Europe, genuine Asian celadon was an exotic import reserved only for the wealthy. Local artisans attempted to reproduce the color and technique but with limited success. The categorization of celadon’s hue has shifted over time and across cultures. To some it evokes a bluish-green like sea glass, while to others it is distinctly green like celery or jade. This ambiguity has added to its mystique.
Modern Uses of Celadon
In modern times, celadon glazes are still widely used in ceramic arts and pottery. The versatility of the celadon glaze allows it to range across the color spectrum from blue to green depending on factors like thickness and firing temperature [1]. When fired thin, celadon often appears more blue-green, whereas thicker applications result in deeper green hues.
Celadon glazes are especially popular for porcelain and stoneware bodies. The pale, opaque tones complement white clay bodies beautifully. Modern celadon glazes often incorporate vivid blue, green, and sometimes yellow pigments to create a vast array of shades and effects [2]. When polished or layered, the glazes produce complex designs that reference the techniques of ancient Chinese celadon but with a contemporary twist.
Beyond pottery, celadon colors also inspire pigments used in paints, textiles, plastics, and more. The soothing greenish-blue tones are widely used in home furnishings, clothing, cosmetics, and industrial design. Whether leaning more towards green or blue, modern celadon offers great versatility across many contexts.
Conclusion
In summary, the analysis showed that celadon contains elements of both green and blue but ultimately leans more towards green. Celadon sits between green and blue on the color wheel, containing shades of both. However, the dominant hue in most celadon glazes and fabrics is green. Historically, celadon originated from Chinese greenwares. While variations may contain hints of blue, celadon is more widely defined by its pale green-gray appearance.
When analyzing the RGB values of celadon colors, the green component is consistently higher than the blue, though both are present. Subjective color perception also categorizes celadon as closer to green, associating it with nature, growth and renewal. While celadon evokes some of the serenity of blue, its dominant characteristic is pale green. In conclusion, while celadon incorporates both green and blue elements, it ultimately sits closer to green on the color spectrum.
