Porcelain

This volume offers a thorough survey of porcelain, tracing its evolution from the early kilns of the Far East to the refined factories of Europe. The author concentrates on the chemistry of the paste, the subtleties of glazes, and the artistic choices that give each piece its character. By setting technical details alongside cultural context, the work reveals how trade routes and aesthetic preferences shaped the material. It avoids the usual obsession with collector marks, instead highlighting the underlying processes that define porcelain.

Readers will travel through the mysteries of Chinese blue‑under‑glaze ware, the emergence of polychrome enamels, and the puzzling spread of Japanese Kakiyemon designs to India and Persia. The narrative then turns westward, examining the legendary discoveries at Meissen, the fleeting use of rose Pompadour at Sèvres, and England’s long experimental gap before its own breakthroughs. Throughout, the author points out unanswered questions that still intrigue scholars, inviting further investigation. The result is a balanced, scholarly guide that brings the hidden history of this delicate craft to life.