The Potter’s Apprentice (China, Sui Dynasty, c. 600 AD)

A Chinese text from the Sui Dynasty mentions an incident in a pottery workshop where a young apprentice named Liu accidentally let the fire grow too hot, cracking several valuable porcelain pieces. His master was furious but realized the accident had created a unique glaze effect. The workshop later experimented with these high-heat techniques, influencing later porcelain-making. This early innovation may have contributed to China’s legendary ceramics industry.