Sotheby's Concise Encyclopedia of Porcelain
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Book Overview
This encyclopedia surveys many centuries of porcelain production, beginning with the early porcelain of the Far East and proceeding through the output of the great European and English factories in the 18th and 19th centuries. It explains how to distinguish between eras, factories and craftsmen.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0316083739
ISBN13:9780316083737
Release Date:January 1990
Publisher:Little Brown and Company
Length:208 Pages
Weight:2.80 lbs.
Dimensions:1.0" x 9.9" x 11.2"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
A good, balanced look at porcelain
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 14 years ago
This book discusses the variety of ways porcelain is made. It looks at the influence of Chinese porcelain on the European market and the evolution of techniques in Europe to mimic the results. Throughout there are good color photos to illustrate the text. Not only are the eras discussed but specific areas that became noted for their products. This is a nice book. I already have "The Art of Ceramics- European Ceramic Design 1500-1830" which covers the same thing and has more examples of highly decorated objects. Other competitive books that you might consider would be: The Dresden Porcelain Collection: China, Japan, Meissen (Masterpieces), The Ewers-Tyne Collection of Worcester Porcelain, and Chinese Export Porcelain in the Reeves Center Collection at Washington and Lee University. Sotheby's book gives an example or two of what the text discusses. Since all manufacturers produced a variety of designs you will have to decide if the general discussion satisfies you or you would like to view a cross section of designs- in which case one of these other books would be better.
Not an encyclopedia!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
This is a narrative history of porcelain, lavishly illustrated. It covers only porcelain, not other forms of ceramics. It focuses on wares that I would consider exclusively museum quality. The illustrations are gorgeous. The text is gracefully written and thoroughly informative. Although it is not arranged topically as a real encyclopedia would be, it does have a marvelous glossary at the end that is an education in itself. With the caveat that this is a narrative not a topical reference, I highly recommend this book.
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