Editor's note: Porcelain industry is looked on as a setting sun one. However, Xu Shaodong, a young artist from Dehua, not only developed the Fu Gui Hong series, but took pioneering steps to market them as well. All that he has done helps him take the lead in red glaze porcelain production.

On entering Fu Gui Hong's exhibition hall in Dehua, you will find yourself fascinated by the world of red porcelain products: from traditional vase to modern sculpture, from gifts to fashionable ornaments etc. Visitors can't help but praise what they have seen.

Like many other pioneers, Xu also experienced great hardships before he succeeded. But he was born a man of tenacity. This quality helped him to produce the Fu Gui Hong series.

10 years of diligence before success

"We are outsiders of porcelain." Xu told us. As a matter of fact, he himself neither has a porcelain background nor training from porcelain school. He simply got to know red glaze porcelain from a book accidentally. From then on, he was determined to overcome the difficulties of developing high-fired red glaze porcelain. Such comment as "He is doomed to fail" were very popular at that time.

Owing to both passion and intrepidity, Xu began his pioneering work in 1996. He built a simple kiln, used his bedroom as exhibition hall… then finally, in 2004, he developed the first porcelain product of his own. He has never looked back since.

It is unimaginable that Xu took the lead in the field of red porcelain. Within 2 years, his works have won series of prizes at Hangzhou West Lake Expo, National Art Expo and National Craftwork Design Competition. What's more, they were chosen as national gifts for the Ambassadors to China and trophies for the Miss Model of the World. In the meanwhile, over 20 chain stores have been opened across China. His years of efforts seem to pay off. However, …

Be yourself

As a proverbs goes, Fame portends trouble for men just as fattening does for pigs. It is with Xu. Within a short time, "red" porcelain products appear on the markets. Ignoring Fu Gui Hong' patent, some factories mass produced counterfeit and shoddy products. All of them are sold at a very low price. It is clear that they wanted the real Fu Gui Hong to be squeezed out of the market.

He fought back. He called for the government departments concerned to take effective measures. But in vain. Failures cooled him down, "Let it be, be yourself, make products of your own!" He spent more time on the development of new products and chain stores. Meanwhile, he began to publicize their extraordinary features.

Xu says, one qualified Fu Gui Hong article are usually selected from dozens of them. Fu Gui Hong has an extremely high amount of lead & cadmium, which will do harm to health. "So, we should be highly responsible!"

Xu and his Fu Gui Hong are now becoming more and more famous. His works even appear on the program "Treasure Appraisal" on CCTV-2. They have become highly collectable, many calligraphers wrote words of encouragement to him. As well, they have entered the list of Gifts for National Guests. Xu is not satisfied. "This is only the beginning. There is a long way to go. I won't succeed without the Dehua porcelain experts. I'd like to take this chance to express my sincere thanks to them."