Tag Archive for ‘Must have’ at 100 Best Books on Chinese Porcelain and Ceramics

Tag Archive for 'Must have'

Iron in the Fire: the Chinese Potter’s Exploration of Iron Oxide Glazes by Nigel Wood

Published

on April 4, 2008

in the Glaze and Pottery Technique category

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Iron in the Fire: The Chinese Potters’ Exploration of Iron Oxide Glazes

Iron in the Fire: the Chinese Potter’s Exploration of Iron Oxide Glazes: An Exhibition Held at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

The 1988 exhibition and the catalog provide technical information on the wide range of iron-based colors found on Ming and Qing porcelains. This is a very good book with beautiful illustration of a number of very good and important pieces. I also find it quite interesting to see the variations of color that could be accomplished by one metallic colorant oxide – iron. As usual the people at Percival David Foundation felt we should know this and as usual, they are right.

Hard to find.

London: The Oriental Ceramic Society, 1988.
Paperback: 88 pages
Publisher: Ashmolean Museum Publications (January 1, 1988)
ISBN-10: 0903421232
ISBN-13: 978-0903421232

Sung Ceramic Designs by Jan Wirgin

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 28, 2008

in the Song Dynasty category

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Sung Ceramic Designs

This is one of my personal favorites and as I see it an indispensable companion for any collector of Song dynasty ceramics. The main reason is one that maybe was not that much of an issue at the time back in the late 1970s when Jan Wirgin was working with this, his doctoral thesis, namely the effort that went into selecting the items that were to be discussed.

Even today more than 30 years later nobody have seriously questioned the authenticity of any of the pieces that went into this book and I find it very refreshing to look through it. It has been reprinted in a second edition but the pictures, all black and white, did not come out as good in the later edition as in the first. This is not a very expensive book so try to find the first edition but if not, also the later are ok.

T’ang Pottery and Porcelain by Margaret Medley

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 28, 2008

in the Early Pottery category

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T’ang Pottery and Porcelain (The Faber Monographs on Pottery & Porcelain)

The work includes all kinds of Tang potteries, not only the better known Tang horses in three-colored glaze, but also lead-glazed and unglazed earthenware, as well as high-fired wares of the Tang dynasty (618-907).

Hardcover: 151 pages
Publisher: Faber & Faber (September 1981)
The Faber Monographs on Pottery & Porcelain
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0571109578
ISBN-13: 978-0571109579

The Baur Collection, Geneva: Chinese Ceramics Volume Three (III) – Monochrome-Glazed Porcelains of Ch’ing Dynasty by John Ayers

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 28, 2008

in the Imperial Chinese Porcelain and Monochromes category

. 0 Comments

THE BAUR COLLECTION, GENEVA: CHINESE CERAMICS VOLUME THREE (III) – MONOCHROME-GLAZED PORCELAINS OF THE CH’ING DYNASTY

The Baur Collection, Geneva: Chinese Ceramics Volume Three (III) – Monochrome-Glazed Porcelains of Ch’ing Dynasty, by John Ayers

For the Imperial Court: Qing Porcelain from the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art by Rosemary E. Scott

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 27, 2008

in the Chinese Ceramics and Imperial Chinese Porcelain category

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For the Imperial Court: Qing Porcelain from the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art

This book was published in conjunction with an exhibition of the same name. Most of the objects featured in this exhibition are are pre-eighteenth century. This collection also features many objects produced in the “guyue xuan” style, the only other notable collection of which is found in the National Museum of Taipei. The collection from which the exhibition is drawn and the quality of the text, makes this modest book a “classic” or “must have”.

Format: Hardcover, 160 pages
Published: 1997, USA, 1st Edition
ISBN: 9813066016

CLASSIC – Chinese Imperial Porcelain

Blanc de Chine by P. J Donelly

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 27, 2008

in the Blanc de Chine / Dehua category

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Blanc De Chine (Monographs on Pottery & Porcelain)

This is the classic book on the white porcelain from the Dehua kilns in Fujian province. This books draws mainly on old well known western collections. The content has been challenged and improved upon in many later books. Still this is the pioneering work and personally I like to combine this classic book with more recent publications and excavation reports.

Hardcover: 422 pages
Publisher: Faber and Faber (July 1969)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0571080782
ISBN-13: 978-0571080786

CLASSIC – the book everybody are complaining about but all are referring too …

Pre-Tang Ceramics of China by William Watson

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 27, 2008

in the Early Pottery category

. 1 Comment

Pre-Tang Ceramics of China: Chinese Pottery from 4000 B.C. to 600 A.D. (Faber Monographs on Pottery and Porcelain)

Chinese pottery from 4000 BC to 600 AD. The book divides China into seven ceramic zones and relates these to the developement of different cultures. The work traces the history of ceramics from the earliest appearance of pottery to the Tang dynasty. Information is organized geographically by regions with descriptions of local characteristics; the development of kilns and vessel shapes and models by using archaeological reports and other studies by Chinese scholars.

I don’t know of any better book on early Chinese pottery, still this subject is so large and complicated it needs a library of its own. I can also tell that if you prefer glossy pictures to academic text, this book might be a bit dry. I still would not want to be without it. That’s the way it is with quality.

Boston: Faber and Faber, 1991.

CLASSIC – Important on early Chinese pottery

Song Ceramics by Lu Yaw, Feng Xianming and Mary Tregear

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 27, 2008

in the Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty category

. 0 Comments

Deals mostly with common Song dynasty export wares. Well illustrated in color and a concise summary of some very informed opinions. Some information is improved upon today but I still don’t want to be without this book. Published by Southeast Asian Ceramic Society 1983 in a limited edition of 2000 copies, it might be a bitch to find.

ISBN 9971837269

CLASSIC – a simple yet very complete display of in particular Song and Yuan trade ceramics

Chinese ceramics in the Baur Collection by John Ayers

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 26, 2008

in the Chinese Ceramics, Imperial Chinese Porcelain, Monochromes and Song Dynasty category

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Chinese Ceramics in the Baur Collection

Alfred Baur (1865-1951) gave his collection to the foundation which bears his name shortly before he died, in 1951. He began collecting in about 1907 and continued right up until his death with creating one of the finest private collections of Asian art in the West. Little was known of the breadth and quality of his collection until his original four volume catalog of the Baur collection of Chinese ceramics was published. Those volumes have been long out of print and are much sought after.

Much as I would prefer the complete original set of Collections Baur, 1968-1984 in eleven volumes, or just the four volumes that containes the cermics, I think this more affordable set of two books gives good value for the money.

Its a compact but beautiful two volume set in a beautiful slip case. It is well produced and contains new photographs and new text by John Ayers.

CLASSIC – A Catalog of one of the finest private collections of Asian art in the West

Chinese Armorial Porcelain Volume II by David Sanctuary Howard

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 26, 2008

in the Armorial Porcelain and Chinese Export Porcelain category

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Chinese Armorial Porcelain. Volume II

This Volume II is a second, much updated, version of a work originally published in 1974. The late David Howard was as dedicated and well-organized businessman and scholar you could ever ask for. Somehow he seemed to share the soul of the early traders, adventurers and businessmen who originated the East India Companies throughout the world in the 17th 18th and 19th centuries. David Howard was an expert in Chinese export porcelain for over thirty years, based in a small shop in Hay Hill in London. We met and corresponded via mail for some time and I am happy to recognize some of my additions to his collection in his books.

This Volume II I would consider an indispensable resource for anyone studying and collecting Chinese Export porcelain.

Beside an extensive list of supplementary articles and registers the listing of services with photographs occupies some 640 pages of the 900 pages.

The original 1974 volume listed nearly 3,000 services made for families with British connections, of which almost 2,000 were illustrated. This new 2003 edition illustrates some 3,380 services, and David Howard believes that perhaps as many as 2,000 more still await discovery.

The order in which this complex material is organized follows the method he introduced in the 1974 edition by dividing them according to the style of the designs on their rims.

Although the system is not perfect, containing minor contradictions and overlaps, it supplements dating most domestic and export Chinese porcelain that bears similar designs as the armorial porcelain why these documented items, sometimes datable to an exact year, provide information with regards to form, pattern, motif and color palette that can be applied both to export wares and to Qing dynasty porcelain more generally.

For supplementary and updating material there is a useful website to complement the book www.chinese-armorial-porcelain.co.uk.

Hardcover: 900 pages
Publisher: Heirloom & Howard Ltd.; 1st edition (2003)
Language: English
ASIN: B000P72736

CLASSIC – on export porcelain in general and specifically, on Armorial porcelain for Great Britain

Chinese Armorial Porcelain Volume I by David Sanctuary Howard

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 26, 2008

in the Armorial Porcelain and Chinese Export Porcelain category

. 0 Comments

This is the first volume of the well known standard works on Chinese Armorial porcelain for the British market, between 1695 and 1820. Besides this, an excellent tool for anybody who want to be able to date 18th century Chinese export porcelain in general. It give a good background to how the porcelain that was made specifically on order was made decorated sold and, bought. This book is a masterpiece and an indispencible book for any in the antiques business as well as most any collector of Chinese Export Porcelain. The ilustrations that are mostly in black and white feels today a bit out dated but are ok for identifying purposes.

CLASSIC – on export porcelain in general and specifically, on Armorial porcelain for Great Britain

Kraak Porcelain: A moment in the history of trade by Maura Rinaldi

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 26, 2008

in the Ming Porcelain category

. 1 Comment

Kraak Porcelain – A Moment in the History of Trade

This is the classic book on Kraak Porcelain and early Dutch market export wares. The time period is limited to the decades before and after 1600 but, this book is important for the understanding of late Ming porcelain in a similar way as David Howard Armorial Porcelain I+II give the keys to the dating of all common 18th century export porcelain. This is not “better” than A D Brankstone, but while Brankstone explains the soul of early Ming, this is the key reference book on late Ming and a fundamental classic on “Kraak Porcelain”

CLASSIC – Fundamental reference on late Ming export “Kraak” porcelain

Oriental Blue & White by Sir Harry Garner

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 26, 2008

in the Chinese Ceramics category

. 0 Comments

Oriental Blue and White, Sir Harry Garner

One of several old books on the subject I really like. It’s a time tested classic, originally published in 1954. Personally I think the third edition is the best. Garner is very “readable” even if later research has proved him not entirely correct in some details, but that will eventually happen to everybody, and does not detract from the overall understanding of the subject of Chinese porcelain that this book will bring.

It is a splendid classic and belongs in any serious reference library, but just that it does not need to come in there first, it should some day, but there is maybe no need to buy this book as one of your first.

Hardcover: 104 pages
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0571047025
ISBN-13: 978-0571047024

Classic introduction to Chinese Blue and White porcelain, mostly Ming. If you started to collect Chinese porcelain a few decades ago, this was on of the books you would find useful as an introduction to this exclusive passtime.

Ming Ceramics in the British Museum by Jessica Harrison-Hall

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 26, 2008

in the Ming Porcelain category

. 0 Comments

Ming Ceramics in the British Museum

Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, by Jessica Harrison-Hall, London, 2001. The world’s broadest collection of Ming Ceramics, here published in its entiety. 640 pages and 1155 pictures of which 1025 in color. A well done book production. Hard to ever beat as a fundamental reference to porcelain from the Ming dynasty. You can find more books but not a single one better. This book also deals with the rarely discussed topic of funeral Ming figures and architectural ceramiocs.

This substantial study of the very diverse achievements in ceramics of the Ming period (1368-1644) draws on the world’s broadest collection, that of the British Museum. Authoritative background chapters on the history of the Ming period, the development of the ceramic industry, the roles of ceramic artefacts in Ming life and in burials precede the presentation of a thousand objects each with photograph and commentary. Appendices deal with forgeries, markings, tombs, shipwrecks, conservation, pigments and photography. Indexed, with bibliograph, listing of Chinese names and maps. This work will be of major importance to student, collector and scholar alike.

CLASSIC – best individual book on Ming porcelain

Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, by Jessica Harrison-Hall

Format: Hardcover, 640 pages
Published: 2001, United Kingdom, 1st Edition
ISBN: 071411488X

Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 25, 2008

in the Ming Porcelain and Yuan Dynasty category

. 0 Comments

Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, by Regina Krahl, et al., London, 1986. This is not really a book. This is a career. It is a heavy set of three books really and they are very expensive. Still they are a “must have” if you really want to understand early Ming blue and white.

The wares in this complete catalogue present a continuous review of porcelain made for export from the 13th to the 20th century which in it’s range of styles and designs is without equal in other collections. With some 4500 pieces dating from the Yuan and Ming dynasties and 5500 from Qing, this three volume set constitutes one of the most extensively illustrated works on Chinese ceramics.

Volume 1 : ‘Celadon Wares’, volume 2 : ‘Yuan and Ming’ volume 3 : ‘Qing’. The three volumes are in slipcases, limited edition of 1500 numbered copies. English text. 1986, fol., 1,384 pages, 5000 ill., cl.

Publisher: Sotheby Parke Bernet Pubns (May 1986)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0856671843
ISBN-13: 978-0856671845
Product Dimensions: 15.5 x 11.5 x 7 inches
Shipping Weight: cool 35.4 pounds !

There is also a recent edition of only two volumes available but I have not compared them and don’t know how much you loose in comparison with the first edition.

CLASSIC

Early Ming Wares of Chingtechen by A. D. Brankstone

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 25, 2008

in the Imperial Chinese Porcelain and Ming Porcelain category

. 0 Comments

This is the most charming book that is likely ever to be published on the subject of early Chinese porcelain. This book is a collector’s item in itself and I highly recommend it for the understanding of early Ming. The personal enthusiasm and brilliant mind of the author goes a long way to explain why we collect Chinese porcelain in the first place. This is a good friend to have in the book shelf. Go for a first edition if you can find one, for the “ambiance”.

CLASSIC – on understanding early Ming

Chinese Ceramics by He Li

Published

Jan-Erik Nilsson

on March 25, 2008

in the Chinese Ceramics category

. 0 Comments

Chinese Ceramics, by He Li: A New Comprehensive Survey: From the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.
New York, 1996. General reference book on every area of Chinese Ceramics. Twin brick size and a “must have” on all topics on Chinese Ceramics. It could be added to in almost all specialist fields but it is a very good starting point that covers it all and gives a perspective, and I can hardly see that you will ever outgrow this reference work.

If your interest is wider than ceramics, there is an old classic by William Willets, Foundations of Chinese Art (London 1965), I warmly recommend too even if it has a few years on its neck. It is by and large a product of Swedish contribution to the field and it reflecs very much of the Swedish I would call solemn view of old China.

CLASSIC – best starting point – must have

100 Best Books on Chinese Porcelain and Ceramics