Century Ceramics

From the Inside Cover: The history of American ceramics from the celebration of the Centennial (1876) to the present day is rich, varied, and relatively undocumented. It is a period studded with men and women of genius, uncompromising ethical standards, and engaging eccentricity. The purpose of the exhibition at the Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York, and this book based on it is to present the history of American ceramics, its aesthetic and its influence, and so provide a perspective. Comprised of over 400 pieces, the majority of which are illustrated in this book, the exhibition and book span one hundred years of creative endeavor. In the decade-by-decade presentation, a variety of styles, philosophies, and techniques of ceramic artists is shown in this first study focusing on the role of ceramics in the modern, decorative, and fine arts of the United States. The journey of self-discovery and purpose that is surveyed here is an extraordinary one. It takes the ceramic medium in the United States from an imitative, exploratory stance in the late nineteenth century to a vanguardist role in the 1950s and beyond. The achievement is twofold. On the one hand, the American ceramists had established a beachhead for a traditional craft medium in the fine arts, redefining the vessel aesthetic and presenting ceramic sculpture as an intimate and meaningful alternative to the cerebral quality of postwar metal sculpture. More broadly, however, it reflects the triumph of a nation that has been able to achieve a cultural voice and identity through the arts in the brief space of one hundred years.

In the complex and varied world of Islamic art ceramics play an important role. Medieval Persian ceramics, in particular, were extraordinary for their technical invention and imaginative, refined iconography achieving artistic results that would be difficult to surpass in the art of pottery. Compared with early Islamic art, works of art from medieval times make much greater use of figural decoration and forms. Alongside celebrated examples from some of the world's most prestigious museum collections, this volume includes a series of hitherto unseen works. The impressive and technically sophisticated pieces include plates, bowls, ewers, jugs, jars, beakers, and spouted and shaped vessels. The book provides an exhaustive panorama of Persian ceramics, striking a perfect balance between technical, stylistic, and aesthetic analysis, which brings the reader closer to this art of exceptional quality and beauty.

* Deep insights the development of studio ceramics in Portugal* Comprehensive overview with a focus on the 1950s and 1960sIn a country known for its lively azulejos (tiles) and clay crafts, local studio pottery in Portugal has remained practically unknown, yet throughout the last century, a considerable number of potters and visual artists -- from Portugal as well as Germany, Hungary, and Mozambique, among other countries -- have created an original corpus of work. Based on what is probably the most comprehensive collection of local ceramic art, this publication discusses with greater detail 30 potters' work and is illustrated with over 200 ceramics. It covers the entire 20th century, but gives particular emphasis to the 1950s and 1960s, when there was a boom in interest for the discipline, and when both state and private patrons commissioned significant artworks. This is the first seminal study of such an eclectic production, aiming to become a standard reference for the general public, collectors, and museum curators.

This book probes the causes of and conditions for the preference of the members of the British-Bangladeshi community for a religion-based identity vis-à-vis ethnicity-based identity, and the influence of Islamists in shaping the discourse. The first book-length study to examine identity politics among the Bangladeshi diaspora delves into the micro-level dynamics, the internal and external factors and the role of the state and locates these within the broad framework of Muslim identity and Islamism, citizenship and the future of multiculturalism in Europe. Empirically grounded but enriched with in-depth analysis, and written in an accessible language this study is an invaluable reference for academics, policy makers and community activists. Students and researchers of British politics, ethnic/migration/diaspora studies, cultural studies, and political Islam will find the book extremely useful.

The production of pottery is one of the oldest of Mexican crafts. This book displays Mexican ceramics of the twentieth century organized by geographic area, style, family, and individual artisan. Based upon an exhibition of over 1,200 pieces, each color picture is accompanied by a detailed description of the piece, including, when possible, the artist, style, place of origin, date of production, and size of the piece.

Potters long ago left behind the notion that pots must be purely useful or merely pleasant everyday objects.

This illustrated bilingual study explores the development of Talavera Poblana glazed earthenware, from the seventeenth century when it was introduced to the New World in Puebla, Mexico, to the present day. These distinctive ceramic basins, vases, drug jars, tile panels, and sculptures synthesize forms and motifs of Spanish, Islamic, Chinese, and Italian origins to create a magnificent, uniquely Mexican style.

"The vessels in the pages that follow open to us a world flickering with the light of a people's collective character and shared philosophy. These vessels have bodies of clay, but they float before us in the zero gravity of wisdom and belief."-- Edwin L. Wade Canvas of Clay tells the story of Hopi ceramics from the 14th century to recent times, offering a particularly close look at the art and life of the master potter Nampeyo (1860-1942). It analyzes the specific dynamics of nearly 100 jars and bowls, all richly illustrated, weaving in many insights into Hopi history, aesthetics, and symbolism. Included are original schematic drawings that will help readers understand how pottery decoration is built from ingeniously combined design elements. This book is a glorious testament to a brilliant art form and its practitioners, presented with passion, knowledge, and respect.