Before 1949, wood-fired kilns were extensively used in Jingdezhen's porcelain production. In 1956, after years of research and experimentation, the state-owned factories in Jingdezhen developed coal-fired kilns to reduce the consumption of pine wood. By 1965, almost all State Owned Porcelain Factories (SOPF) in Jingdezhen were using coal-fired kilns. In the 1990s, more advanced diesel and gas-fired kilns were adopted by the SOPFs.
However, the fuel may have affected the quality of the porcelain, as gas and oil cannot entirely replicate pine tar in producing the unique traditional feel of Jingdezhen porcelain. Therefore, even in the 1990s, the Art Porcelain Factory – the main manufacturer dedicated to producing Famille Rose (fencai 粉彩) fine arts ceramics – continued to use wood- and coal-fired kilns to manufacture export commodities, while other products were manufactured in oil- and gas-fired kilns.
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