The art of porcelain manufacturing is linked closely to China and its history, appearing in the 7th century when it became an important symbol of royalty or high status. The masterpieces of the genre featured in this book range from simple tea bowls and fantastic vases to hair ornaments, figurines and snuff boxes with intricate, multi-coloured designs. The presentations of these fragile objects are accompanied by an informative outline of the history of Chinese porcelain. This delicate material attracted and continues to attract the attention of art lovers throughout the world.

Among the most revered and beloved artworks in China are ceramics—sculptures and vessels that have been utilized to embellish tombs, homes, and studies, to drink tea and wine, and to convey social and cultural meanings such as good wishes and religious beliefs. Since the eighth century, Chinese ceramics, particularly porcelain, have played an influential role around the world as trade introduced their beauty and surpassing craft to countless artists in Europe, America, and elsewhere. Spanning five millennia, the Metropolitan Museum’s collection of Chinese ceramics represents a great diversity of materials, shapes, and subjects. The remarkable selections presented in this volume, which include both familiar examples and unusual ones, will acquaint readers with the prodigious accomplishments of Chinese ceramicists from Neolithic times to the modern era. As with previous books in the How to Read series, How to Read Chinese Ceramics elucidates the works to encourage deeper understanding and appreciation of the meaning of individual pieces and the culture in which they were created. From exquisite jars, bowls, bottles, and dishes to the elegantly sculpted Chan Patriarch Bodhidharma and the gorgeous Vase with Flowers of the Four Seasons, How to Read Chinese Ceramics is a captivating introduction to one of the greatest artistic traditions in Asian culture.

"For centuries Chinese ceramics have been the objects most coveted in the West by collectors with an interest in the arts of Asia. The extraordinary innovations of Chinese potters court among the most outstanding accomplishments in the cultural heritage of the world since the Neolithic era. Systematic study of Chinese ceramics, begun in the eighteenth century with the French Jesuit Pere d'Entrecolles, has been greatly enlarged in the twentieth century, and since the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976, extensive excavations at kiln sites have yielded invaluable new insights into the chronological development of ceramic forms, glaze types and decorative styles. This remarkable book cites all the latest scientific and archaeological evidence, examining provenance, technique, archaeological and historical context, and ancient traditions of Chinese connoisseurship and patronage to provide an integrated and highly detailed approach to the subject." "In over 700 color photographs specially taken for this book, a wide range of imperial and regional, decorative and practical, export and domestic, ceremonial and funerary wares are fully represented."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved