在平(ping)(ping)定(ding)縣這塊土地(di)上,砂器在秦(qin)代就已經(jing)出(chu)現了。1972年,平(ping)(ping)定(ding)縣東關(guan)古窯(yao)層塌(ta)土中(zhong)出(chu)土了大量砂器碎片。經(jing)專家(jia)考(kao)證,確認其“屬(shu)秦(qin)代生產的平(ping)(ping)定(ding)砂貨”。上世(shi)紀70年代,平(ping)(ping)定(ding)柏井村發現了平(ping)(ping)定(ding)窯(yao)遺址,據《大明一統志》《廣輿(yu)記》及《中(zhong)國陶(tao)瓷義(yi)》等文獻記載:“平(ping)(ping)定(ding)窯(yao)始于(yu)唐,興于(yu)宋,后因戰(zhan)亂而(er)失(shi)傳。”平(ping)(ping)定(ding)窯(yao)早在唐代即產白瓷。宋時,全(quan)國約有(you)130座瓷窯(yao),平(ping)(ping)定(ding)即在其中(zhong),所燒(shao)制的白瓷與河北“定(ding)窯(yao)”相媲美,有(you)“西窯(yao)”之稱(cheng)。
平(ping)定(ding)窯瓷器(qi)產量頗多,但由于砂(sha)(sha)器(qi)成本低廉,在民(min)間實(shi)際用途多于瓷器(qi),銷量更(geng)(geng)為廣(guang)(guang)泛。唐宋時(shi)期,它(ta)已成為平(ping)定(ding)手工業與商業的大宗。明清時(shi)期,平(ping)定(ding)砂(sha)(sha)鍋更(geng)(geng)是聞(wen)名遐邇,與宜興紫砂(sha)(sha)陶、廣(guang)(guang)東砂(sha)(sha)煲齊名,史稱“三(san)鼎(ding)甲(jia)”,平(ping)定(ding)也(ye)被譽為“砂(sha)(sha)器(qi)之鄉(xiang)”。
新(xin)(xin)中國(guo)成立以后,平(ping)(ping)定(ding)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)加(jia)速發展手(shou)工(gong)(gong)業生(sheng)產(chan)(chan),聚集(ji)當地(di)手(shou)藝(yi)高(gao)超的(de)(de)陶(tao)(tao)瓷(ci)藝(yi)人劉瑞祿、謝存仁、卜同舉、王更正(zheng)、張聰等人成立了(le)(le)冠莊瓷(ci)業社(后改為平(ping)(ping)定(ding)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)冠莊陶(tao)(tao)瓷(ci)廠)。他們改善了(le)(le)一些生(sheng)產(chan)(chan)砂(sha)貨(huo)的(de)(de)條(tiao)(tiao)件(jian),在采(cai)挖原料、粉碎和吹風等工(gong)(gong)序(xu)上(shang)不斷(duan)改進,拓展出(chu)近百(bai)種新(xin)(xin)品種。隨著郭蘭英一曲《夸土(tu)產(chan)(chan)》:“陽泉煤炭有名聲,平(ping)(ping)定(ding)砂(sha)貨(huo)亮晶晶”,平(ping)(ping)定(ding)砂(sha)貨(huo)享譽(yu)大江南北。平(ping)(ping)定(ding)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)蘊(yun)藏(zang)著豐富的(de)(de)優質粘土(tu),俗(su)稱(cheng)坩子,它(ta)是平(ping)(ping)定(ding)砂(sha)器上(shang)好的(de)(de)制(zhi)作原料。平(ping)(ping)定(ding)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)還有燒(shao)(shao)制(zhi)砂(sha)器的(de)(de)優質無(wu)煙煤,該煤燒(shao)(shao)制(zhi)過(guo)程無(wu)污染。手(shou)藝(yi)人就是利(li)用這些物質條(tiao)(tiao)件(jian)和世(shi)世(shi)代代流傳(chuan)下來的(de)(de)工(gong)(gong)藝(yi)技巧,生(sheng)產(chan)(chan)出(chu)各種砂(sha)器。
平定(ding)砂器以天(tian)然粘土作(zuo)原(yuan)料,無任何有(you)害化學成(cheng)份;內外(wai)光潔,質地均勻,色(se)澤銀亮,叩之其聲如敲金、擊缶;工藝品(pin)千(qian)姿(zi)百態,造型(xing)古(gu)樸典雅,線條(tiao)靈活流暢(chang),圖案(an)豐富多(duo)彩,釉面光亮潤(run)澤。
根據土質不(bu)同,傳統平定砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)器(qi)有(you)細(xi)砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)和粗(cu)砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)兩(liang)種(zhong),細(xi)砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)產品多而精(jing),有(you)砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)明鍋(guo)、砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)把鍋(guo)、砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)罐、砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)火鍋(guo)、砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)壺等(deng),質地(di)細(xi)密而薄,光澤發亮,耐酸堿,用(yong)作煮(zhu)飯、燉肉、煎中(zhong)藥等(deng)。粗(cu)砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)產品少,只有(you)全鍋(guo)、二至四(si)號鍋(guo)、砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)盆(pen)、砂(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)花盆(pen)等(deng)十幾個品種(zhong)。
平(ping)定砂(sha)(sha)器(qi)(qi)釉面(mian)主要(yao)有(you)黑(hei)白兩種(zhong),白砂(sha)(sha)器(qi)(qi)制作后(hou)自(zi)然(ran)冷(leng)(leng)卻即可(ke)。黑(hei)砂(sha)(sha)器(qi)(qi)則(ze)需要(yao)經過“滲碳還原(yuan)”工(gong)序來完成,即將燒(shao)好的(de)砂(sha)(sha)器(qi)(qi)挑入特(te)制的(de)“還原(yuan)坑”里進行熏制,待自(zi)然(ran)冷(leng)(leng)卻后(hou),表(biao)面(mian)光閃晶亮的(de)黑(hei)砂(sha)(sha)器(qi)(qi)就制好了。
平(ping)定砂(sha)(sha)器(qi)的(de)品種很多,日用砂(sha)(sha)器(qi)主(zhu)要(yao)有(you)鍋(guo)、碗、瓢、盆、壇、罐(guan)、茶壺、油燈(deng)、花盆等,用途不(bu)一,形態各異。令平(ping)定人自豪的(de)還有(you)木炭(tan)砂(sha)(sha)貨,它由火筒、火鍋(guo)、底座、鍋(guo)蓋四部(bu)分組成,其傳統工藝獨具匠心(xin),燒煮肉(rou)類菜蔬(shu)原汁原味(wei),可與著名的(de)大同銅火鍋(guo)爭芳(fang)斗妍。