The Hatcher Porcelain Cargoes
By Colin Sheaf & Richard Kilburn

Blue and White // Ship Wreck Cargoes // Transitional 1620-1683

Sheaf, Colin & Kilburn, Richard, The Hatcher Porcelain Cargoes. The Complete Record.

Overview and general presentation of the two first of Michael Hatchers porcelain cargoes, the Ming junk cargo (c. 1643-1646) from a seventeenth century Chinese junk, and the Dutch East Indiaman Geldermalsen that foundered in 1752.

I think this is a good reference for the Hatcher cargoes, in particular the 1640’s junk. This book and the actual auction catalogs covers it very well. I would not call this book indispensable but the color pictures of the 1640s junk cargo are good and considering the precise dating of the pieces this is a valuable reference.

192 pages
212 illustrations of which 138 in color
Phaidon/Christies, 1988.
ISBN. 0 7148 8046 9

April 6th, 2008

Minan Blue-and-white Wares

Blue and White // Fujian / Blanc de Chine

Minan Blue-and-white Wares: an Archaeological Survey of Kiln Sites of the 16th-19th Centuries in Southern Fujian, China,

(BAR international series ; 428). Oxford, U. K.: B.A.R., 1988.

A detailed report on the kiln finds of Minan blue-and-white wares, in southern Fujian, with descriptions of five districts of sites and localities, technical skills used, organization of the production, thoughts for further research.


April 5th, 2008

Lost at Sea:
The Strange Route of the Lena Shoal Junk
By: Franck Goddio et al.

Blue and White // Chinese Export Porcelain // Ming Porcelain // Ship Wreck Cargoes

lena_shoal.jpgLost at Sea: The Strange Route of the Lena Shoal Junk, by Franck Goddio, Monique Crick, Peter Lam, Stacey Pierson and Rosemary Scott

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Periplus Publishing London (December 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1902699351
ISBN-13: 978-1902699356
Product Dimensions: 13.8 x 9.5 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds


March 29th, 2008

Zhangzhou Ware Found in the Philippines: Swatow Export Ceramics from Fujian 16th-17th Century
By Rita C. Tan

Blue and White // Fujian / Blanc de Chine // Ming Porcelain // South East Asia

swatow.jpg

This account of the 16th and 17th century ceramics of Zhangzhou (formerly often called “Swatow china”) is published in connection with the 2007 Yuchengco Museum/Oriental Ceramic Society of the Philippines exhibition. Accounts of the production methods export and trade patterns, archaeological sites and shipwrecked stock complement the 180 annotated color plates of artefacts displayed in the exhibition. With sketch maps, graphics, and index.

Format: Hardcover, 191 pages
Published: 2007, Philippines, 1st Edition
ISBN: 9789719317006

March 28th, 2008

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

Blue and White // Chinese Export Porcelain // Ming Porcelain

kraakporcelain.jpgKraak 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

March 26th, 2008

Blue and White
Chinese Porelain Around the World
By: John Carswell

Blue and White


carswell.jpgBlue and White – Chinese Porelain around the world

This wide-ranging and richly illustrated study of Chinese blue and white porcelain focuses on its international trade, which has had great significance since the 13th century Yuan Dynasty when export to the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia was established.

This book is exceptional in that it focuses mainly on the origin of blue and white and deals with those rare early Ming blue and whites as if they were in some way accessible for us normal people. There are multimillion-dollar pieces page up and page down, superbly illustrated and with a modern text that consider the latest findings in the field, exemplifies with excavated pieces and museum pieces. A quite interesting book for the foundation of porcelain collection but not a shopping manual so to speak. Highly interesting. Brilliant pictures. A good book. Yes – to buy, but not on top of the “necessary” list so to speak.

The development of the trade throughout the world including Mexico, South America and Western Europe during the 16th century Ming Dynasty is described, and the Islamic influence discussed. The porcelain has been widely collected since the 17th century and past and present collections and discoveries are described and seen as an area for future discoveries and scholarship.

With line drawings, 240 color illustrations, bibliography and index.
Format: Hardcover, 208 pages
Published: 2000, USA, 1st Edition
ISBN: 071411491X

March 26th, 2008

Chinese Blue and White Porcelain by Duncan Macintosh

Blue and White // Chinese Porcelain (in general)


duncan.jpg
Chinese Blue and White Porcelain

Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, by Duncan Macintosh. In this volume the author walks you through the history of blue and white porcelain while explaining the historical setting which to me is very important for to understand why the porcelain ended up as it did. If you want to understand the porcelain on a deeper level this is an important book. At first most blue and white porcelain looks, well, just blue and white. This book helps you see the significat differences between porcelain from the different dynasties.

Chinese Blue & White Porcelain, by Duncan Macintosh 2nd ed. Hong Kong: Book Marketing Ltd., 1986,
Reprinted with minor amendments 1988.
The 3rd edition was published in 1994.
Reprinted 1997.

Format: Hardcover, 236 pages
ISBN: 9789622110670

March 25th, 2008