Early Chinese wares rival those of the Tang and the Song periods for their boldness and imagination, mastery of technique and decoration, the shaping of forms and the use of materials. This book makes extensive use of recent excavations and research in China to examine pre-Tang ceramics.

This catalogue of pre-Han pottery presents a variety of regional ancient cultures and reveals China's early civilizations through 63 fine examples of ceramic artworks from the Neolithic period through the Western Zhou dynasty drawn from the renowned Meiyintang Collection. Clearly outlining the different regions and charateristics of the ceramic-producing cultures of ancient China, this volume includes information on newly excavated materials and discussion on how these Neolithic and Bronze age cultures laid the foundations for China's later artistic and cultural achievements.

Song Blue and White Porcelain on the Silk Road disproves received opinion that pre-Ming blue and white dates to the Yuan (1279-1368 A.D.) and establishes the proper foundation for 21st century study of ancient Chinese porcelain.