Prehistoric Thai Ceramics: Ban Chiang in Regional Cultural Perspective, by Labbe, Armand J.
This is the first comprehensive book of its kind in English, focused exclusively on pottery – the technology, production and artistic development – in Thailand in prehistory. Spanning the period from about 2200 BC to 500 AD, a rich repertoire of pottery working techniques, forms and decorative schemes is uncovered. This book examines pottery production in the Northeast, Central and Southeast seabord regions of Thailand. Differences and similarities in production are noted by site, region and chronology. Lavishly illustrated with color plates, maps and charts.
Published: 1st Edition, Thailand 2002.
ISBN: 9744800208
Paperback: 168 pages
Published: White Lotus Co Ltd (September 1, 2007)
ISBN-10: 9744800208
ISBN-13: 978-9744800206
Elegant Form & Harmonious Decoration: Four Dynasties of Jingdezhen Porcelain (Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art: Colloquies on Art AndArchaeology in Asia)
Catalog of the anniversary exhibition at the Foundation, June-Sept. 1992. An excellent work illustrating objects from the Percival David Foundation and the private collection of Mr. C.P. Lin. Both collections predominantly contain fine Imperial wares and it is these porcelains that reflect the tastes and interests of the Chinese court.
Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art: Colloquies on Art and Archaeology in Asia., London 1992.
Hardcover: 175 pages, 200 objects depicted in color.
Publisher: Art Media Resources Ltd (June 1992)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 981003721X
ISBN-13: 978-9810037215
Product Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.5 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
Translated from Chinese, the work provides an overview of the history of Chinese pottery and porcelain and their place in other cultures. It also provides a list of important ancient kilns in China, arranged by name of kiln, location, dates, products and bibliography.
Chinese Pottery and Porcelain, by Li, Chih-yen and Ch’eng Wen
Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1984.
Chinese Porcelains of the Seventeenth Century: Landscapes, Scholars’ Motifs and Narratives
Catalog of an exhibition at China Institute Gallery, New York, it describes porcelains made at Jingdezhen between 1630 and 1700, focusing on the motifs of landscapes, scholar’s pursuits and the influence of Chinese landscape painting on the decoration of ceramics.
Paperback: 168 pages
Publisher: China Institute in America, New York 1995.
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0295974672
ISBN-13: 978-0295974675
Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
Chinese Copper Red Wares (Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art monograph series ; no. 3), edited by Rosemary E. Scott.
Scholarly and scientific studies on Chinese copper red ware, its evolution and development, the micro structure and the glaze.
London: The Foundation, 1992.
Chinese Ceramics of the Transitional Period: 1620-1683, by Stephen Little
(New York, 1983)
Exhibition catalog. One of the earlier books that specifically tried to deal with the Ming / Qing Transitional period. Quite interesting and with some good explanations of porcelain motifs of the period and quite some attention spent on explaining the last decades of the Ming dynasty. Recommend as good and interesting. A bit too thin though, to be enough to cover this period.
JE
Vietnamese Ceramics: A Separate Tradition
Vietnamese ceramics exhibit a unique combination of indigenous creativity plus elements derived from other cultures such as China, Cambodia, Champa, and India. Decorative motifs, glaze types, production methods, perhaps even attitudes toward potting, differed distinctly from those of China. Using excellent clay from the Red River Valley — smooth, homogenous, gray-white-the Vietnamese created the most sophisticated ceramics in South-east Asia. The most definitive study of Vietnamese ceramics to date, this volume is a collaborative effort from experts around the world, including Vietnam, Japan, England, France, and the United States. Tracing the history and development of Vietnamese ceramics, the scholars examine the kiln sites of Vietnam, study techniques, and systematically categorize the field according to different traditions that had profound influence on the production of ceramics in Vietnam.
A superbly written and well produced book. Highly interesting and one that I personally find interesting to read together with other books, on for example Thai ceramics, for a better understanding of this South Chinese coastal area trade region and their ceramics.
JE
Format: Hardcover, 422 pages
Published: 1997, USA, 1st Edition
ISBN: 9781878529220
Straits Chinese Porcelain: A Celebration of a Unique Malaysian Heritage Showcasing the Datin Seri Kee Ming-Yuet Collection, by Ming-Yuet Kee, is quite a large book with its 28×30 cm impressive frame.
This lavishly illustrated book is a celebration to “Straits Chinese Porcelain as a Malaysian heritage”. This heavily sponsored publication is a catalog of the personal collection of Datin Seri Kee Ming-Yuet, who is also the author. The authentication of the porcelain is credited Professor Qin Xi Lin and Dr. Cao Jian Wen of the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute.
The book features more than 150 pieces dating from the late Qing dynasty and the early years of the Republic are featured. Among them are plates, tea sets, wine warmers, jugs, teapots and bedroom sets. Most of them in undisputed Straits Chinese decoration while a few more general export patterns also have got some recognition. Each piece is accompanied by a detailed description, which are quite interesting both for the porcelain collectors as well as those wanting to become more familiar with the Baba Nyonya culture of the Malaccan peninsula.
Beside some patriotic slants in perspective the book contains quite a lot of information of this unique type of porcelain, its history and decoration. The full color photographic illustrations are stunning of the shapes and decorations that the author chooses to show. The only week point I can think of is that the definition of what constitutes Straits Chinese porcelain could have been tighter. Some of the undisputed glory of this magnificent ware is thus maybe not coming to its right but despite this, the book is an excellent starting point.
Format: Hardcover, 227 pages
Published: 2004, Malaysia, 1st Edition
ISBN: 9789833214020
Song Dynasty Ceramics (Victoria & Albert Museum Far Eastern)
I would say that this is currently the number one book on Song ceramics right now. This volume highlights over 118 objects from the Victoria & Albert Museum’s magnificent collection to discuss China’s great age of ceramic production (1960-1279). The book is illustrated with many of the finest examples of Song ware in the Western world, many of which look astonishingly modern. The text, including research never before published in English, is complemented by newly taken photos.
The V&A’s collection of Song Dynasty ceramics ranges from rare and precious items to many interesting study pieces. In the last twenty years new research in China has led to a great expansion in knowledge about this fascinating ear. Rose Kerr has traveled to China annually and has brought together in this book the fruits of this research, much of it now published in the West for the first time. She uses it to provide context for the remarkable pieces illustrated here, and to bring the subject up-to-date for an English-speaking audience.
Rose Kerr are the former deputy keeper of the Asian department at the V&A Museum and is a much appreciated world authority on Song ceramics.
Format: Hardcover, 128 pages
Published: 2004, United Kingdom, 1st Edition
ISBN: 1851774157
Ceramics in Scholarly Taste
This book is a catalog from a Southeast Asian Ceramic Society exhibition in Singapore 1993. It is a very interesting review from a Chinese Scholars point of view about small items made for his desk. They are very nice and sophisticated and from a western point of view hard to understand and to identify properly. There are seal past boxes, brush rests, brush pots, water droppers, wrists rest, ink slabs and brush washers etc. If you like small and sophisticated Chinese porcelain collector’s items, this book is for you. I find it very interesting myself and to read it through is well spend time in pleasant company with the well known and accomplished scholar Maura Rinaldi as your guide. She is as you might recognize also the author of the standard reference work “Kraak Porcelain”, also mentioned on this list. The items span from the Song dynasty up until the early republic period.
JE
Paperback: 151 pages
Publisher: Southeast Asian Ceramic Society (October 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9810043953
ISBN-13: 978-9810043957
Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
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