Expertly crafted from thousands of tiny and intricately arranged pieces, micromosaics appear at first glance to be miniature paintings. Closer inspection reveals the extraordinary skill of the virtuoso makers, who were able to create exquisite images brimming with drama and atmosphere. Focusing on 30 highlights from the V&A's superlative Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection, which includes some of the finest examples of micromosaics made, this new book explores the technical aspects of micromosaic construction, its roots in antiquity, their incredible popularity in the last quarter of the eighteenth century, and their evolution through the nineteenth century until the technique virtually vanished in the early 1900s

An unprecedented exploration of Venetian maiolica set in a vibrant context of hybridity and exchange. Introduced by migrant potters ca.1500, the medium offers a unique point of entry into Venice's material world shaped by Mediterranean trade and local luxury production. This exhibition catalogue explores maiolica's multifaceted connection to objects ranging from Islamic metalwork to Venetian glass. Accompanying an exhibition held at the Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Global Luxury in Renaissance Venice explores the role of maiolica within the vast range of luxury objects made in Venice and imported into the city, highlighting the place of the medium at the nexus of cross-media and cross-cultural exchanges. Thematic discussions investigate the circulation of artefacts and the migration of ornament, the potter's workshop and artistic lineage, and maiolica's position in the material culture of splendour that characterized elite interiors. The book addresses works made in the thriving workshops of Jacomo da Pesaro and Domenego da Venezia, and suggests a connection between the rise of villeggiatura in the mid-sixteenth century and the ascent Venice's maiolica industry.

An exclusive tour of one of the most diverse and high-quality collections of Scottish Wemyss Ware. Lavish illustrations cover an impressive range of Wemyss subjects - animals, flowers, insects, birds and more. Includes an essay on Wemyss production by historian Carol McNeil, as well as an introduction by collection owner George Bellamy. Wemyss Ware is an evocative name to anyone with an interest in pottery. It conjures grinning cats and pot-bellied pigs, jugs and plates and other items of tableware, often decorated with an intricate pink cabbage rose or other such bucolic scenes. Produced in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, from 1882 to 1930 (and in Bovey Tracy, England, 1930-1952), Wemyss Ware has an illustrious history. From the Wemyss family, the patrons of this pottery line; to the Queen Mother and Prince Charles, Wemyss Ware has caught the eye of many individuals of note. Among these was George Bellamy, now a legendary collector of Scottish Wemyss, who has been seeking out his pieces since 1976. A treasure trove of Wemyss Ware, this book catalogues a collection lovingly compiled over decades. Carol McNeil's essay traces the history of the Fife Pottery where Wemyss Ware saw its debut, while Bellamy's introduction guides the reader through several of the key figures involved in the locating and preserving of these works of art. Scottish Wemyss Ware 1882-1930 celebrates the labour, design and artistry that poured into each hand-decorated pot. Often inspired by the Fife countryside where they first originated, these characterful creations are just as delightful now as when they were first produced. This book was produced with the invaluable assistance of John Mackie, Director of Lyon & Turnbull.

By the time of his death in 1904, critics, arts reformers, and government officials were near universal in their praise of Art Nouveau designer Emile Galle (1846-1904), whose works they described as the essence of French design. Many even went so far as to argue that the artist's creations could reinvigorate France's fading arts industries and help restore its economic prosperity by defining a modern style to represent the nation. For fin-de-siecle viewers, Galle's works constituted powerful reflections on the idea of national belonging, modernity, and the role of the arts in political engagement. While existing scholarship has largely focused on the artist's innovative technical processes, a close analysis of Galle's works brings to light the surprisingly complex ways in which his fragile creations were imbricated in the political turmoil that characterized fin-de-siecle France. Examining Galle's works inspired by Japanese art, his patriotically inflected designs for the Universal Exposition of 1889, his artistic manifesto in support of Dreyfus created in 1900, and finally, his late works that explore the concept of evolution, this book reveals how Galle returns again and again to the question of national identity as the central issue in his work.

Jun wares were made in north China over a period of 400 years, from the 11th to the 15th centuries. These ceramics are unique both for their artistry and the complex techniques required to produce them. Jun wares are subtle yet dramatic - red and purple bursts of colour splash across thick, cloudy blue glazes, containing bubbles and many gradations of tone. To achieve these effects, the production of Jun ware was complex and ingenious, relying on novel techniques. This book gathers illustrations and descriptions of some of the finest Jun wares in private and public collections around the world. The account starts with ceramics dating to the Song, Jin and Yuan dynasties and proceeds to the stunning 'Official' Jun wares made in the early Ming dynasty. Copious illustrations are augmented with a scholarly essay. Highlighting over 191 pieces of Jun ware with 425 illustrations from 17 major museums, Dazzling Official Jun Wares will inspire collectors, students and anyone with a love for Chinese ceramics.

Have you ever wanted to create your own ceramics but had no idea how to begin? Expert ceramicist Melisa Dora teaches you everything you need to know to make exquisite ceramic tableware. Step-by-step instructions clearly outline the techniques for forming and building your pieces, throwing the clay, firing, and glazing. Explore the best practices for using clay and different glazes -- and even how to make your own glazes. Discover how to reuse, recycle, and reclaim your materials. Learn tips for troubleshooting and advice for photographing and selling your finished work. Once you've mastered the techniques, use them to create mugs, plates, bowls, serving dishes, vases, and more. Melisa Dora makes it easy for you to design and create ceramic pieces that will adorn your home and brighten your life.

During the eighteenth century, porcelain held significant cultural and artistic importance. This collection represents one of the first thorough scholarly attempts to explore the diversity of the medium's cultural meanings. Among the volume's purposes is to expose porcelain objects to the analytical and theoretical rigor which is routinely applied to painting, sculpture and architecture, and thereby to reposition eighteenth-century porcelain within new and more fruitful interpretative frameworks. The authors also analyze the aesthetics of porcelain and its physical characteristics, particularly the way its tactile and visual qualities reinforced and challenged the social processes within which porcelain objects were viewed, collected, and used. The essays in this volume treat objects such as figurines representing British theatrical celebrities, a boxwood and ebony figural porcelain stand, works of architecture meant to approximate porcelain visually, porcelain flowers adorning objects such as candelabra and perfume burners, and tea sets decorated with unusual designs. The geographical areas covered in the collection include China, North Africa, Spain, France, Italy, Britain, America, Japan, Austria, and Holland.

This practical and beautiful book covers a wide range of inventive, decorative techniques and encourages the maker to be adventurous and experimental. By building a repertoire of decorating skills and methods, it shows how the maker can create distinctive marks and surfaces on clay, thereby making their work individual and unique. With so many ideas and clear, practical instruction to the techniques, this book is an essential reference for makers of all skill levels, and is sure to inspire a new and creative stream of work. From embossing, engraving, printing and embellishing the clay surface using coloured slips, underglaze colours, oxides and glazes. Coloured clay and smoke firing effects, as well as the exciting potential of mixed media. The importance of mark-making tools and advice on making a personal collection. With insights from individual makers who generously share their discoveries and decorative experiments Over 450 lavish photos illustrate the techniques and ideas covered

This inspirational and practical book features the work of contemporary artists with clear step-by-step projects for anyone to try. It takes a look at materials, from translucent glass tiles and fabulous smalti to broken ceramics and mirrored glass, and explains how to use them. All the techniques are covered in detail, and there are essential tips for using texture when designing. Photographic instructions are given for over 60 individual projects, which make it easy for anyone to make mosaics. This delightful book reveals how this enduring medium can bring style and texture to both home and garden.

Robert Hodgins is a celebrated and highly respected South African artist. Hodgin's paintings and works on paper are highly sought after on both the local and international market. At 88, Hodgins is still producing witty and satirical works. He has been producing ceramic works for almost 2 decades, however these works have received very little exposure and the last exhibition of his ceramic works was about 18 years ago. Retief van Wyk is a ceramicist who has worked closely with Hodgins in the production of these ceramic works. Their association spans nearly 2 decades. In this title van Wyk documents the ceramic works produced by Hodgins with his assistance and the well researched essays explore the influences which form Hodgins' art and the nature of the ceramic works.

When you hold a Pueblo pot in your hands, you feel a tactile connection through the clay to the potter and to centuries of tradition. You will find no better guide to this feeling than Talking with the Clay. Stephen Trimble's photographs capture the spirit of Pueblo pottery in its stunning variety, from the glittering micaceous jars of Taos Pueblo to the famous black ware of San Ildefonso Pueblo, from the bold black-on-white designs of Acoma Pueblo to the rich red and gold polychromes of the Hopi villages. His portraits of potters communicate the elegance and warmth of these artists, for this is the potters' book. Revealed through dozens of conversations, their stories and dreams span seven generations and more than a century, revealing how potterymaking helps bridge the gap between worlds, between humans and clay, springing from old ways but embracing change. In this revised, expanded, and redesigned edition, Trimble brings his classic into the twenty-first century with interviews and photographs from a new generation of potters working to preserve the miraculous balance between tradition and innovation.

In the past, slipcasting was primarily considered an industrial method. Today, however, ceramic artists are adapting its techniques to create a wide range of beautiful and highly individualised pieces. Sasha Wardell clearly explains and demonstrates the techniques involved and shows how they can be adapted for the studio workshop. This book gives the reader a thorough grounding in all aspects of mould making and slipcasting. Examples of the work of an international group of artists are used to illustrate the breadth and versatility of the work that can be created. The images in this second edition have been updated to colour, along with a revised chapter on individual approaches by well-known contemporary artists.

H. Leslie Moody and Frances Johnson Moody never owned the company outright, but their dreams shaped North Carolina's Hyalyn Porcelain, Inc. and drove it forward to the satisfaction of an emerging, increasingly modern post-World War II America. Hyalyn's reputation for high quality led to its association with top designers like Michael and Rosemary Lax, Eva Zeisel, Georges Briard, Charles Leslie Fordyce, Herbert Cohen, Erwin Kalla, and Esta Brodey. Before moving to North Carolina in 1945, ceramic engineer and designer Less Moody prepared to organize and operate Hyalyn Porcelain, Inc. From Zanesville's Mosaic Tile Company, Ohio State University's ceramics department, Love Field Pottery, Abingdon Pottery, San Jose Potteries, and Rookwood Pottery, he gained expertise in clay formulation, glaze chemistry, product design, plant operation, project planning, advertising, and employee management. With the aid of investors, his dream came true when, in 1946, Hyalyn's first lamp bases and flower containers emerged from the shop's tunnel kiln. Thoroughly documented and illustrated with 425 images, hyalyn: America's Finest Porcelain is a complete history of Hyalyn Porcelain, Inc., and its successors, Hyalyn Cosco, Hyalyn, Ltd., and Vanguard Studios.

Jean Anderson's new cookbook deliciously brings together two of her lifelong passions-great food and North Carolina pottery. Fans of both will celebrate. While always meant for one another, pottery and cooking are enjoying a new romance-many potters have introduced designs, glazes, and techniques that make pottery more versatile, while others continue making the traditional pie plates, casseroles, jugs, and mugs that made this state's pottery famous. Potters now routinely tuck recipes into everything from stoneware angel-food cake pans to salt-glazed bean pots, and Anderson has selected a treasury of favorite recipes contributed by the twenty-four gifted North Carolina potters featured in this book. Following an introduction to the state's pottery traditions and general instructions for cooking in clay, Anderson sets off on three tours, pinpointed on maps, that wind through the state's prime pottery regions-the Greater Triangle, Seagrove, and the Catawba Valley/Mountains. She profiles the featured potters, sharing their captivating backstories and favorite, fully tested recipes. How about trying Ben Owen's persimmon pudding, Mark Hewitt's South African beef bobotie, or Siglinda Scarpa's Italian fruit tart, to name just a few of the dishes that span the South and the globe. Beautiful photographs of twenty-four recipes in their clay vessels will urge you to dig in.

The gripping story of the lure of porcelain, or 'white gold', from the Number One bestselling author of The Hare with Amber Eyes. ** A Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller ** "Other things in the world are white but for me porcelain comes first" A handful of clay from a Chinese hillside carries a promise: that mixed with the right materials, it might survive the fire of the kiln, and fuse into porcelain - translucent, luminous, white. Acclaimed writer and potter Edmund de Waal sets out on a quest - a journey that begins in the dusty city of Jingdezhen in China and travels on to Venice, Versailles, Dublin, Dresden, the Appalachian Mountains of South Carolina and the hills of Cornwall to tell the history of porcelain. Along the way, he meets the witnesses to its creation; those who were inspired, made rich or heartsick by it, and the many whose livelihoods, minds and bodies were broken by this obsession. It spans a thousand years and reaches into some of the most tragic moments of recent times. In these intimate and compelling encounters with the people and landscapes who made porcelain, Edmund de Waal enriches his understanding of this rare material, the 'white gold' he has worked with for decades. 'This is a haunting book, a book that amasses itself piece by piece, gaining in weight.' Olivia Laing, New Statesman 'A mighty achievement' Guardian

Just as a single pot starts with a lump of clay, the study of a piece's history must start with an understanding of its raw materials. This principle is the foundation of Pottery Analysis, the acclaimed sourcebook that has become the indispensable guide for archaeologists and anthropologists worldwide. This new edition fully incorporates more than two decades of growth and diversification in the fields of archaeological and ethnographic study of pottery. It begins with a summary of the origins and history of pottery in different parts of the world, then examines the raw materials of pottery and their physical and chemical properties. It addresses ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological perspectives on pottery production; reviews the methods of studying pottery's physical, mechanical, thermal, mineralogical, and chemical properties; and discusses how proper analysis of artifacts can reveal insights into their culture of origin.

This book includes 25 beautiful projects that is shown step by step. The wonderful hues and textures of enamel celebrated in inspirational and practical designs, shown in over 300 photographs. Projects include a Fleur-de-lis Bookmark, a Door Plaque, Stargazer Earrings, Napkin Rings, a Night and Day Clock Face, a Cloisonne Bowl, a Flower Pendant and a Moon Bowl. This is a comprehensive guide, from getting started to achieving excellence, with everything you need to know about materials, equipment and techniques. It comes with pictures by the highly regarded craft, cooking and lifestyle photographer, Peter Williams. Enamel is a form of glass, and enamelling is the process of fusing it to metal using heat. The craft of enamelling has been practised for centuries, dating back to the Egyptians who used it as to imitate precious stones. This book illustrates the remarkable work being produced by today's enamellists using tried-and-tested methods, and shows in simple step-by-step sequences how to create 25 beautiful projects at home. All you need to get started is access to a small, purpose-built kiln and some basic enamelling equipment.A techniques section shows how to prepare enamels and metal, how to apply enamels for different effects and how to fire a piece, and the projects include earrings, beads, buttons, brooches and keyrings. This outstanding book shows how to create highly distinctive work that will be treasured.

This title presents the work of 100+ established and emerging international polymer clay artists. Each chapter will focus on a specific category of polymer clay work, including colour, fashion, miniatures and more. It includes in-depth profiles of influential artists and step-by-step demonstrations of his or her signature technique. In Polymer Clay Global Perspectives, polymer clay artist and founder of the blog Polymer Clay Daily, Cynthia Tinapple presents the work of more than 100 established and emerging polymer clay artists from around the world. Each chapter will focus on a specific category of polymer clay work, including colour, fashion, miniatures, sculpture, mixed media and caning, and will offer an in-depth profile of an influential artist, a step-by-step demonstration of his or her signature technique, and an inspiring overview gallery of related work by other artists.

Henry Holiday (1839-1927) was a polymath who counted figures such as Lewis Carroll, William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and Emmeline Pankhurst as his friends. Most significantly, he was unquestionably one of the greatest stained-glass artists of the Victorian-Edwardian period, yet his considerable achievements have not received the recognition that they deserve. Taking Holiday's commissions for New York State churches as its focus, George Bryant's ground-breaking study places the artist's transatlantic accomplishments in the context of the social, artistic, religious and economic shifts that shaped his success in the US during America's Gilded Age - a period where existing social hierarchies were challenged by new money and European immigration that ended with the outbreak of the First World War. Also providing a clear understanding of the technical and aesthetic differences that set Holiday's stained glass apart from that of his contemporaries such as Edward Burne-Jones, La Farge, and Tiffany, Bryant's truly original publication, based on substantial archival research, makes a significant contribution to our understanding of nineteenth-century stained-glass design and Henry Holiday's important achievements.

Aimee McCulloch, an accomplished modern glass artist, goes beyond traditional stained-glass techniques and makes glass into modern and contemporary works of art. Enjoy that contemporary focus in this complete guide as she first teaches beginner stained-glass skills (cutting glass, soldering, etc.) before launching you into 10 ambitious, exciting, and inspiring projects that can be displayed at home or given as gifts. By learning each of these techniques, you'll be able to continue working and experimenting with stained glass to combine techniques and create your own special designs. With McCulloch's help, combine new, contemporary techniques with historical ones to bring this popular art form into the present day.

Contemporary Raku is a complete guide to this exciting, dramatic and beautiful art form. It explains the making, glazing and firing methods employed for producing Raku-ware, and features contributions and insights from leading makers. Recognizing the deeper values of the practice, the book also considers the influences and sources of inspiration behind the work of these makers. It introduces the necessary tools and equipment, and advises on essential health and safety measures. It explains how to make vessels and forms with step-by-step photo sequences. Recipes for clay bodies and glazes for the beginner and the more experienced maker are included. Details are given on the Raku-firing process and the range of kilns used. Finally, it explores the practice of 'Naked Raku'. With over 300 illustrations, it is a stunning and detailed account to this magical process.

Born in 1965 about 100 kilometres from the former imperial porcelain factories of Jingdezhen in China, Bai Ming is a multi-facetted visual artist. A professor and lecturer, he is director of the Department of Ceramics at the Academy of Art and Design of Qinghua University in Beijing, and of the Shangyu Celadon International Art Centre of Contemporary Ceramics. He also heads two workshops, where he boldly mixes ancestral techniques, traditions and practices with those of international contemporary art. The delicacy of his technique in ceramics, painting and lacquer has revitalised Chinese porcelain, freeing it from its archaic forms. His creations have won major Chinese awards and are recognised by collectors around the world. Christine Shimizu, curator of the exhibition devoted to the artist at the Keramis Centre in Belgium, brings together various authors in this book: Mael Bellec, Antoinette Fay-Halle, Jean-Francois Fouilhoux, Catherine Noppe and Ludovic Recchia. All testify, each in their own way, to their perception of Bai Ming's multifaceted work. The book follows an exhibition that will take place at Keramis from 16 November 2019 to 15 March 2020. Text in English and French.