Zhang Lianzhi Chinese collector Country: China

1. Biography of Zhang Lianji
2. The Yuebao House
3. The Porcelain House
4. The Land Rover

Biography of Zhang Lianji

Zhang Lianji is a renowned Chinese collector of porcelain who has transformed his home and car into works of art by adorning them with a vast number of porcelain shards. Born and raised in Tianjin, Zhang Lianji is known for his passion for art and antiquities. Over the past 20 years, he has built an extensive collection of antique porcelain, which forms a significant part of his personal assets.

The Yuebao House

In September 2002, Zhang Lianji acquired an elegant old mansion in Tianjin's Heping District, known as the Yuebao House or Chinese House. The mansion, built over 100 years ago in the French style, had previously served as the residence of the Minister of Finance during the Qing Dynasty and later housed a bank. After the bank relocated, the mansion remained vacant and neglected until Zhang Lianji purchased it for 1 million yuan ($125,000).

Over the next four years, Zhang dedicated much of his time to decorating the mansion with porcelain and ceramic shards. To achieve his desired effect, he used over 400 million shards of antique porcelain, 16,000 shards of precious ancient porcelain, 300 pieces of white marble carvings, and 20 tons of natural crystals. The shards dated back to various dynasties, including the Tang Dynasty, which spanned from the 7th to the 10th century. Zhang Lianji spent over 2 billion yuan ($315 million) on the decoration, blending fragments from different pieces to create unique compositions.

The Porcelain House

The result of Zhang Lianji's efforts was the creation of the Porcelain House, a museum-like mansion where virtually every surface is adorned with porcelain plates, vases, and figurines. The house showcases Chinese culture and traditions at every turn, with intricate porcelain mosaics forming four Chinese dragons that wrap around the exterior walls, symbolizing the power of ancient China. The courtyard wall, constructed from over 3,000 porcelain vases, is known as the "Wall of Health" or "Ping'an Qiang" since the Chinese word for "vase" sounds like "health."

Inside the house, porcelain is used for the decoration of ceilings, doors, and railings. Approximately 80% of the porcelain used in the Porcelain House is damaged or broken antiques, which Zhang repurposed to give them a new lease of life. This unique composition has captivated the public's attention since the opening of the house to visitors in September 2007.

The Land Rover

In addition to his Porcelain House, Zhang Lianji made headlines once again by covering his Land Rover with porcelain shards. Approximately 10,000 pieces of antique ceramics were used to embellish the car, sparking debates among heritage preservationists about the preservation or potential damage to national treasures. The extravagant Land Rover attracts significant attention and serves as a means to draw international attention to Chinese porcelain.

With his passion for art and antiquities, Zhang Lianji continues to expand his collection and promote the rich cultural heritage of China through his unique artistic endeavors.