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Franz Porcelain: Bringing Art to the Dinner Table 法蓝瓷的艺术飨宴

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Whether it’s a teapot, an ornate vase, or a simple bowl, items made of porcelain can be found in countless households across the world. And as the birthplace of the material’s manufacture, China has long set the standard with the fine quality and craftsmanship of its porcelain products. Indeed, in the West, many people still simply refer to porcelain as “china.”

不管是一只茶壸、装饰华丽的花瓶，或是样式简单的碗，在世界各地数不清的家家户户里都能找得到瓷器的踪迹。作为制造瓷器的发源地，长久以来，中国在制作质量优异、工艺精美的高级瓷器方面树立了典范。至今，西方仍有很多人以china（中国英译的小写）作为瓷器的代名词。

When China first began to trade heavily with European countries in the 17th century, porcelain items were among the most sought-after by the Europeans. The material was so highly regarded, in fact, that it came to be known as “white gold,” which was also a reflection of the high prices that porcelain products commanded. However, this “golden age” of porcelain trade from China did not last forever. Once the European found out the secret of porcelain manufacture and began to make it themselves, demand for china from China dropped off sharply.

中国于17世纪时开始与欧洲各国有大量的贸易往来，瓷器乃当时欧洲商人竞相收购的热门商品之一。在当时，瓷器的身价极高，甚至有「白金」之称，瓷制品要价不斐的情形可见一斑。然而，中国瓷器交易的黄金时期并没有一直持续下去。一旦欧洲人发现了制作瓷器的秘诀，且开始自制生产后，对中国瓷器的需求自然就大幅下降。

These days, though, Chinese porcelain is very much back in vogue in the West, and one of the driving forces of the movement is the Taiwanese brand Franz Porcelain. Combining the finest traditions of Chinese design with a distinctly contemporary style, Franz Porcelain was only founded in 2002 but has already won a host of awards, including the United Nations’ Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts. Its brand name is derived from the founder Li-heng Chen’s German name, Franz. Chen’s vision for his brand is to raise people’s awareness of creativity in their everyday lives, with Franz products being just as much works of art as they are practical objects.

不过近年来，中国瓷器风华再现，在西方又再度掀起流行，促成这股趋势的主要推手为台湾自创品牌──法蓝瓷。法蓝瓷结合精致的中国传统设计与鲜明的当代时尚风格，虽然该品牌于2002年才成立，却已拿下诸多大奖，其中包括联合国所颁发的「世界杰出手工艺品徽章」。其品牌名称源自于创办人陈立恒先生的德文名字Franz。法蓝瓷的产品被定位为兼具实用价值的功能性艺术品，透过法蓝瓷向大众传达日常生活中所蕴含的创意与巧思正是陈先生的品牌理念。

Vocabulary

单词发音

countless [ˋkaʊntlɪs] adj. 数不尽的，无数的

household [ˋhaʊs͵hold] n. 家庭，户

manufacture [͵mænjəˋfæktʃɚ] n.（大量）制造

refer to .... as  把…称为…

sought-after [ˋsɔt͵æftɚ] adj. 广受欢迎的﹐吃香的〔但罕有或难得到〕

reflection [rɪˋflɛkʃən] n. 反映

command [kəˋmænd] v. 博得，赢得

demand [dɪˋmænd] n. 需求

drop off  减少; 下降;  to decrease

in vogue 正在流行

contemporary [kənˋtɛmpə͵rɛrɪ] adj. 当代的; 现代的

a host of 许多,一大群

derive [dɪˋraɪv] v. 起源，由来[（+from）]

vision [ˋvɪʒən] n. 梦想，憧憬; 构想﹐设想; 念头

awareness [əˋwɛrnɪs] n. 察觉；意识；感悟能力

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单词发音

porcelain [ˋpɔrslɪn] n. 瓷；（总称）瓷器

ornate [ɔrˋnet] adj. 装饰华丽的

craftsmanship [ˋkræftsmən͵ʃɪp] n. 手艺; 工艺﹐技艺

regarded [rɪˋgɑrdɪd] adj. 受尊敬的; 受重视的

distinctly [dɪˋstɪŋktlɪ] adv. 明显地〔用于表示某人或某物具有某种易辨认的特征﹑特点等〕

seal [sil] n. 象征；标志; 印章，图章

handicraft [ˋhændɪ͵kræft] n. 手工艺品

课文朗读

课文讲解

Much of Franz Porcelain’s work is rooted in the traditional techniques of the Chinese town of Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province, which has a 1,700-year history of pottery production. This is also where the company’s own factories are located. When looking at the many exquisite pieces in the Franz Porcelain collection, a common theme of nature can be easily identified. This may be evident in a jug resembling a gorgeous flower, a spoon handle shaped like a butterfly, or a porcelain bird perched on the rim of a vase. Using nature as their inspiration, Franz’s team of expert designers from around the world has helped give the brand its own distinctive character.

法蓝瓷的产品大多承袭中国江西景德镇长达1,700年的传统制瓷技术。这座古老瓷都也是法蓝瓷的生产基地。细细品味法蓝瓷作品系列的各式精品时，不难发现「自然」为常见的主题。一只外型艳美如花的壸罐，一支把手形似彩蝶的汤匙，或是一只栖歇在花瓶缘口的瓷鸟，都是显而易见的例子。法蓝瓷的工作团队由世界各地的设计师与艺术顾问组成，以大自然为创作灵感，塑造了法蓝瓷独树一帜的风格。

This pro-nature philosophy is not just limited to design, but encompasses many other aspects of the company’s operation. For example, unlike much chinaware, Franz Porcelain products are completely free of lead and animal bones, making them less harmful to the environment. In addition, lower firing temperatures in the manufacturing process mean that energy is saved and emissions are reduced. In Jingdezhen, the company is helping improve the local environment by funding a tree-planting scheme in the surrounding hills. So, it’s not only in the quality of its products that Franz Porcelain sets an admirable example, but also in its green endeavors.

这种亲近自然的理念并不仅限于产品的设计，也落实在公司各方面的运作。举例来说，有别于一般瓷制器皿，法蓝瓷的产品坚持不用铅或动物的骨粉，以减少环境破坏。此外，制作过程中降低烧窑时的温度，既能节能减碳又可减少废气的排放。为维护景德镇的环境，该公司目前参与了赞助当地周边山丘的树林保育植树计划。由此看来，法蓝瓷不仅在产品的质量上建立了卓越的口碑，公司对环保的投入也同样令人激赏。

Franz Porcelain is certainly one of Taiwan’s great business success stories of recent years. This globally recognized brand, desired by collectors, royalty, and celebrities alike, goes to show that microchips and tea are not the only exports of which Taiwan should be proud!

法蓝瓷的故事无疑是近几年来台湾最成功的企业奇谭之一。这个扬名国际的品牌，受到无数收藏家、皇室与名流的青睐，由此可见，除了芯片与茶叶外，台湾又多了一项值得骄傲的外销商品。

−by David Vickers

Vocabulary

单词发音

root [rut] v. 根源在于，来源于[（+in）]

exquisite [ˋɛkskwɪzɪt] adj. 精致的；制作精良的

theme [θim] n. 主题

evident [ˋɛvədənt] adj. 明显的

resemble [rɪˋzɛmb!] v. 像，类似

gorgeous [ˋgɔrdʒəs] adj. 灿烂的，华丽的

perch [pɝtʃ] v.（鸟）飞落，栖息

inspiration [͵ɪnspəˋreʃən] n. 灵感

philosophy [fəˋlɑsəfɪ] n. 哲学

encompass [ɪnˋkʌmpəs] v. 包含

aspect [ˋæspɛkt] n. 方面

scheme [skim] n. 计划；方案

surrounding [səˋraʊndɪŋ] adj. 周围的；附近的

endeavor [ɪnˋdɛvɚ] n. 努力，尽力

celebrity [sɪˋlɛbrətɪ] n. 名人，名流

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单词发音

jug [dʒʌg] n. 水罐，瓮，壶

distinctive [dɪˋstɪŋktɪv] adj. 有特色的，特殊的

pro- [pro] pref. 前缀: 亲-;赞成-;支持-

chinaware [ˋtʃaɪnə͵wɛr] n.（总称）陶瓷器

emission [ɪˋmɪʃən] n. 放出, 排出; 〔光﹑热﹑气等的〕散发

admirable [ˋædmərəb!] adj. 令人钦佩的; 极其出色的

microchip [ˋmaɪkro͵tʃɪp] n. 微型集成电路片; 微芯片; 芯片

Reading Questions

1. Why was porcelain referred to as “white gold?”

A. Because it was manufactured in a similar way of gold.

B. Because it was almost as rare as gold.

C. Because it was very valuable like gold.

D. Because European thought it resembled gold.

2. What is NOT true about Franz Porcelain products?

A. They are a mix of modern and traditional designs.

B. They are in demand in Western countries.

C. They have gained plenty of international praise.

D. They are not meant to be used practically.

3. Which of the following is an example of Franz Porcelain’s environmental effects?

A. Using nature as its main design theme.

B. Reducing the amount of lead in its products.

C. Adopting techniques to reduce pollution.

D. Saving energy by planting trees.

4. What is the main purpose of the article?

A. To introduce a recently successful Taiwanese company.

B. To outline the history of porcelain manufacture.

C. To discuss how factories in China are helping the environment.

D. To examine why Franz Porcelain is so popular around the world.

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