The Chinese are famed as the first to have discovered and mastered the techniques needed to produce porcelain. Yet carefully crafted ceramics are valued not only for their beauty, but also as precious cultural artifacts shedding light on the period in which they were produced. Chinese ceramics represent works of art both in themselves and as a medium for painting, poetry, calligraphy and sculpture. This accessible, introductory survey takes the reader through the rich history of Chinese ceramics from primitive pottery to delicate porcelain, complemented by full-color illustrations throughout.

What was the impact of Romanisation on non-elite life in central Italy during the late third and second centuries BC? Focusing on the increasing spread of black-gloss pottery across the peninsula, Dr Roth demonstrates the importance of the study of such everyday artefacts as a way of approaching aspects of social history that are otherwise little documented. Placing its subject within the wider debate over cultural identity in the Roman world, the book argues that stylistic changes in such objects of everyday use document the development of new forms of social representation among non-elite groups in Roman Italy. In contrast to previous accounts, the book concludes that, rather than pointing to a loss of regional cultural identities, the ceramic patterns suggest that the Romanisation of Italy provided new material opportunities across the social scale.

This book examines how Romans used their pottery and the implications of these practices on the archaeological record. It is organized around a flow model for the life cycle of Roman pottery that includes a set of eight distinct practices: manufacture, distribution, prime use, reuse, maintenance, recycling, discard, reclamation. J. Theodore Pe??a evaluates how these practices operated, how they have shaped the archaeological record, and the implications of these processes on archaeological research through the examination of a wide array of archaeological, textual, representational, and comparative ethnographic evidence. The result is a rich portrayal of the dynamic that shaped the archaeological record of the ancient Romans that will be of interest to archaeologists, ceramicists, and students of material culture.

Bucchero is a very common type of fine pottery that was made by the Etruscans when their civilization was at its height, from the seventh to the fourth century BC. This study concentrates on the products of South Etruria, where the earliest and finest bucchero was made, and where the tradition lasts longest. Until recently bucchero has been little studied, and the aim of this book is to present a sequence of pottery from archaeological contexts, so that the development of the ware can be seen as a whole within a chronological framework. Many of the tomb-groups catalogued are published here for the first time. In studying the shapes careful consideration is given to the affinities with Greek and with other Etruscan wares. A full survey of the decorative techniques is included, and the pattern of distribution both within Etruria and further afield is discussed. An important feature of the book is a series of sixty pages of drawings of the profiles of every shape of bucchero pot studied. Bucchero is of considerable importance as a dating tool, and although the book is directed primarily at specialists, it will also be of interest to anyone who is curious about Etruscan art and archaeology.

Excavations at the Etruscan site of Poggio Civitate (Murlo) have produced some of the most spectacular and provocative material recovered from Etruria. This volume presents the reconstruction and study of a large assemblage of bucchero pottery recovered from the "Lower Building" at Poggio Civitate in deposits dating from the late Orientalizing period. Bucchero is a characteristic Etruscan ceramic type that is commonly found at Orientalizing and Archaic period Etruscan sites. This study represents the first major publication on bucchero from Poggio Civitate and also is one of the few studies of a large assemblage of bucchero recovered from a nonfunerary context. The author examines the chronology, style, and function of the bucchero and also considers the question of its place of production. The analysis of the bucchero from the Lower Building has important implications not only for the dating of the rest of the Orientalizing period ceramic assemblage at Poggio Civitate, but also for the dating and study of bucchero in Etruria as a whole.

The Attic white lekythoi, funerary vases long appreciated for their beautiful polychrome images, evoke the style of lost classical wall and mural paintings. This richly illustrated volume closely examines the four major types of scenes: domestic pictures; the mythological conductors of the soul; the prothesis (wake); and visits to the grave. John Oakley analyzes these pictures in context, documenting relationships between the "rites of passage," Athenian history, and the changing perceptions of death in fifth-century Athens.

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.

Stained glass painting is a technique for painting on glass to simulate the look of stained glass-no cutting or assembly required. This book features all the information you need to make a piece of beautiful faux stained glass and also contains projects for working on less common surfaces, such as a mirror, a sheet of acetate, or a block of wood.

The innovative stained glass textbook by award winning stained glass artist Phillip McKee, who was also injured as a firefighter at the Pentagon fighting the fires spawned by the terrorist attacks on 9-11. The easy to follow lessons guide you through all the stages of making stained glass art. In a first for a stained glass textbook, this work includes links to free online videos that actually show readers how to perform the tasks covered in the lessons You're no longer learning alone. Instead, it's like having a private tutor. Plus, there are additional links for downloading the free patterns included with the book, a free trial of the GlassEye 200 stained glass design software and over 340+ stained glass patterns that you can use for free. No other stained glass instructional book has this combination of features.

The first edition of "Make It or Break It; Stained Glass for Beginners" went through multiple printings and sold copies on every continent - a scientist on Antarctica even bought a copy It has been used by stained glass instructors in numerous English-speaking countries and by self-taught artists around the globe.

Now with the added online content, improved and expanded lessons, and in eBook form, the 2nd Edition has gotten even better.

For nearly two decades, Preston Singletary has straddled two unique cultures, melding his Tlingit ancestry with the dynamism of the Studio Glass Movement. In the process, he has created an extraordinarily distinctive and powerful body of work that depicts cultural and historical images in richly detailed, beautifully hued glass. Singletary has translated the visual vocabulary of patterns, narratives, and systems of Native woodcarving and painted art into glass, a material historically associated with Native peoples through an extensive network of trading routes. Singletary entered the world of glassblowing as an assistant, mastering the techniques of the European tradition as he worked alongside Seattle-area artists such as Benjamin Moore and Dante Marioni. He also had opportunities to learn the secrets of the Venetian glass masters while working with Italian legends Lino Tagliapietra and Pino Signoretto. The Northwest Native icons, supernatural beings, transformative themes, animal spirits, shamanism, and basketry design of Singletary's Tlingit heritage are manifested in his work, creating a unique whole that resonates on many levels and reveals a new artistic direction. This mid-career retrospective of his work includes contributions by Melissa G. Post, Steven Clay Brown, and Walter Porter, as well as a DVD of Singletary working in his studio. Preston Singletary's works are in museum collections around the world, including the National Museum of the American Indian; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Seattle Art Museum; Corning Museum of Glass; Mint Museum of Art; the Heard Museum; and the Handelsbanken (Stockholm, Sweden).

For nearly seven decades the ebullient art of Joan Miro (1893-1983), Spanish painter, sculptor, ceramist and mythmaker, has intrigued and enchanted art lovers worldwide. This collection of his writings presents a portrait of the artist in his own words. Miro's notebooks, letters, and interviews reveal the work and life of a brilliant artist revered for his uncanny expression of the subconscious. "Joan Miro" centres on Paris during the vibrant era between the wars, when Miro became the intimate of almost everyone in that scene - boxing with young Hemingway, working with Max Ernst on the Ballets Russes, drinking, painting and arguing with Picasso, Braque, Dubuffet, Matisse, Breton and many others. Miro engagingly recounts all of this, as well as stories of his exile during World War II. Miro's virtuosity encompassed drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, poetry, stage sets, costumes, murals and tapestries; he vividly describes the creation of these artworks in these pages.

The brightly colored tin-enameled earthenware called maiolica was among the major accomplishments of decorative arts in 16th-century Italy. This in-depth look at the history of maiolica, told through 140 exemplary pieces from the world-class collection at the Metropolitan Museum, offers a new perspective on a major aspect of Italian Renaissance art. Most of the works have never been published and all are newly photographed. The ceramics are featured alongside detailed descriptions of production techniques and a consideration of the social and cultural context, making this an invaluable resource for scholars and collectors. The imaginatively decorated works include an eight-figure group of the Lamentation, the largest and most ambitious piece of sculpture produced in a Renaissance maiolica workshop; pharmacy jars; bella donna plates; and more. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Distributed by Yale University Press Exhibition Schedule: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (08/29/16-02/26/17)

The works in porcelain and colourful shades of stoneware by Doris Banks might be modest and reduced in form, colour, and decoration yet they still possess a remarkable impact and presence. All the objects are one-offs - modelled, formed, pressed, folded, glazed, and decorated by hand. As a result, the natural character of the material remains vivid. With a minimalist aesthetic beholden to Asia, the ceramic artist's works are characterised by a virtuoso play of form and surface that allows a tactile experience of textures on the exterior surface. This monograph is an in-depth appraisal not only of these works but also of an artist who despite her early death achieved remarkable things in studio ceramics. Text in English and German.

This book of a significant private collection of eighteenth-century Meissen porcelain has been expertly catalogued and photographed. With over 100 specially commissioned photographs to showcase the objects in the round and close-up, as well as to highlight their important features. There are detailed entries for each item, whilst the introductory essay helps to shed light on these beautiful pieces of Meissen porcelain, many of them extremely rare, and are placed into their historical context. Anyone with an interest in the decorative arts of the eighteenth-century will find this book a feast for the eyes.

"My Dad, The Folk Potter" is a young reader's picture book that shows the complete process of making traditional pottery using methods 19th Century Catawba Valley potters used, including hand-digging local clay, glazing, firing in a ground hog kiln and selling of wares. The book is written from the perspective of a fourth-grader as he watches his dad "turn and burn." Pottery buffs of all ages will appreciate both the educational and artistic value of this book.

This richly illustrated volume highlights one of the most significant collections of African ceramics in the United States, distinguished for its breadth and representation of women’s excellence in ceramics. Collected by William M. Itter, Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts at Indiana University, the scope of the collection is wide-ranging, representing 65 different ethnicities and more than 20 countries in Africa. Illustrating a range of approaches to art making, the works are organised around topics that explore place, time, artistic media, and cultural identity and addressing issues related to cross-cultural exchange, cultural diversity, embodiment, temporality, and spirituality. Organised by the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, this beautifully designed book celebrates the remarkable work and contributions of women artists.

Glass as an art form has an ancient tradition; the archaeological record suggests that artisans in Egypt and Mesopotamia were fabricating glass vessels and ornaments during the fourth millennium BCE. Its durable nature, range of colours, malleability, and most of all, its optical transparency are qualities that have made glass a premiere art medium. Over a lifetime, Frederick Birkhill has explored the unique qualities of glass and the numerous techniques and intricacies of working with it. The result of these decades of study is a body of work that is extraordinary in scope, technical expertise, and sheer virtuosity. This book, from The Artist Book Foundation honours this gifted artist. From his time in England at Burleighfield House, the studio of stained-glass artist Patrick Reyntiens, to his unprecedented visit to Lauscha, the village in East Germany famous for both its art and scientific glass production, and his subsequent career as an explorer, teacher, and master of the glass arts, Birkhill has devoted himself to furthering the appreciation of the medium and sharing his vast experience with colleagues, collectors, and students. His works appear in numerous museum collections, including those of The Corning Museum of Glass, the Museum of Arts and Design, the Mint Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Smithsonian. Complementing the scholarly contributions by authors with significant backgrounds in the glass arts, the book features in its extensive plate section the lavish photography of Henry Leutwyler, which offers readers an opportunity to examine the complex details and artistic mastery of Birkhill's oeuvre. In addition, the monograph offers a glossary of glass-art terms, a detailed chronology of the artist's life, his extensive exhibition history, and a list of the numerous awards he has received. For those who are passionate about the glass arts, this monograph will be a feast for the eyes.

Transform your plain pottery into exciting, colourful and contemporary pieces for the home in a trice! You don't need pottery classes, or even a kiln to glaze your creations - you can make gorgeous items quickly and easily by painting plain, shop-bought ceramic items and baking them in a domestic oven. With 22 colourful projects to make, there are decorative plates, bowls, cups and pots, vases, a lamp - and even earrings and a necklace. With simple techniques to follow, all explained in clear and simple terms, you just need a few brushes, some ceramic paints and some plain pottery and away you go! If you love painted ceramics, patterns and making little gifts - this book is for you!

Complete instructions, patterns, material lists, and step-by-step photos for 18 projects-panels, boxes, candleholders, sun catchers, ornaments, and more-suitable for beginners. All great looking and using the newest styles of glass-many have the contemporary look popular on Etsy and Pinterest. With this companion to Stackpole's Basic Stained Glass Making, you can use your new skills to create beautiful art. For each project, finished project photos, full-size pattern, materials list, and technique photos and instruction are presented, along with variations of some patterns. Includes expert advice for the basic techniques of glass cutting, grinding, foiling, and soldering.

A paragon of modern design, this book charts the history, rise and fall of the world's best-selling patented teapot.

The ceramicist Theres Stampfli (b. 1952) and the musician Peter K Frey (b. 1941) have been working together under the name TONundTON since 1990. The artist duo always operate in terms of location, frequently searching for deserted buildings robbed of their function, such as a former reservoir or a transformer tower dependent on a power supply. The artists successfully revitalise the abandoned locations with sensitive, often anthropomorphic ceramics and sounds that fill the entire room. Even when intervening in museums, their installations alter the overall perception of space. In doing so, the two artistic disciplines come together to form a collective project, both audibly and visually. TONundTON is the first major documentation of their work. A soundtrack belonging to each of the images can be played by accessing QR codes in order to unite the acoustic and visual performances. Text in English and German.