Ceramics, Pottery

A sweeping cultural and economic history of porcelain, from the eighteenth century to the present

We think of blue and white porcelain as the ultimate global commodity: throughout East and Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean including the African coasts, the Americas and Europe, consumers desired Chinese porcelains. Many of these were made in the kilns in and surrounding Jingdezhen.

Since its founding in the early 1950s, the Spanish porcelain firm Lladró has attracted a large collector market.

The Japanese world utsuwa literally means vessel or container, and commonly refers to any kind of cup, plate, dish, or pot. Unlike mass-produced crockery, the spontaneous ceramic form is momentary and fleeting, with an unparalleled warmth and aesthetic pleasure. This art form emerges from the particular clay or raw material used, the thickness and flow of the glaze, and the condition of the kiln. An individual piece depends on the distinct balance between all of these factors, and each piece is one-of-a-kind; encounters with utsuwa are said to be once-in-a-lifetime experiences. This book features gorgeously photographed pieces by a selection of specialised ceramists.