Antiques Japan Ceramics

Antiques japan ceramics

From China to Porcelain

Porcelain, is today, so widely available and is such an every day commodity, that we could very easily overlook just how different it was.    

The West was introduced to oriental porcelain as early as the mid 15th century, when precious examples appeared in Lisbon, Portugal being the first to acquire trading rights from Imperial China.

Prior to this, porcelain, both Chinese and Japanese, was seen in Europe as a mystical substance, with almost, magical properties, from a place that very few knew of, let alone, had been to.  Most information was still based on the visit made by Marco Polo in 1275.

One anecdotal story we have involves the last will and testament left by Queen Elizabeth the 1st, who died in 1603.  Listed among the Queens personal effects was a little Chinese porcelain tea bowl, no doubt produced during the Ming dynasty, probably around 1550.

This precious object, was not only considered as rare and valuable, but having magical, if not, life saving properties!  It was commonly believed that this mysterious little bowl from the “Middle Kingdom” would turn black, should it come into contact with poison!  This story had arrived in England from the Italian Medici court, where poison was a very real threat to the ruling family!

The secret mystery of porcelain production remained a secret until 1704 when it was rediscovered in the Electoral state of Saxony (now northern Germany) under the patronage of Augustus, elector of Saxony and King of Poland.

Augustus was a fanatical collector of Japanese porcelain in particular and would go to extreme lengths to acquire pieces for his collection; with much of his outstanding collection can still be seen today.

From these early 18th century beginnings, porcelain from China and Japan began to arrive in Europe.  The appeal of the market was immediate, and Oriental porcelain became the rage. It is worth recalling that we still call porcelain “China”, because, that’s where it came from!

Ceramics, per se, are top of the list in being a surviving visual gauge of social change throughout history.  From mans prehistoric history, it is usually, shards, or, broken pieces of low fired pottery which remain to give us a revealing insight into the lives of men and women as far back as it is possible to go.

Since the Saxon development of porcelain over 300 years ago, innumerable changes have taken place throughout society, particularly in standards of living. It is now, of course, possible for everyone to buy porcelain for everyday use, from very expensive to very inexpensive.

One of the leading qualities of Antique Porcelain at our time of history is the ability to reconnect with our past through our antique acquisitions, which not only enrich our interiors, but further enrich our lives.

The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise in antique table lamp lighting with an on-line range of over 100 unique, antique and vintage table lamps on view.

Lamps are shipped ready wired for the U.S, the U.K and Australia.

For more information you are invited to visit their web site at -:

www.antiquelampshop.com

© The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co 2009

About the Author

Maurice Robertson, principal of The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co , has had a lifetime’s association with Antique Porcelain And Pottery,with his commercial experience spaning a period of 40 years,including as a valuer to the Australian Government’s Incentive to the Arts Scheme. His long experience with Antique Ceramics and glass also includes dealing with leading museums and numerous international private collections. He has extended his ceramics expertise into the quality table lamps seen on the company’s site, he is well known to local and international interior designers who have included many of his table lamps in their projects and has also supplied items of national interest to the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister.

Antique Japanese Ceramic Oil Lantern - Classic Shokudai

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Collecting Japanese Antiques $39.82 This comprehensive and readable guide features over 500 beautiful color photographs, and begins with brief introductions to both Japan`s art heritage, and to the practice of collecting. The book is organized by type of artifact, such as screens & scrolls, prints, ceramics, furniture, textiles, armor, cloisonnI, lacquerware, dolls, and tea ceremony utensils, and includes historical background, descriptions of technique, and practical advice to collectors. The format is oversize (9.25x12.25<">). Annotation )2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Care And Repair of Antiques And Collectables $16.06 A step-by-step guide to acquiring, fixing, and preserving antiques and collectibles features recommendations for objects made from wood, metal, ceramics, and other materials, in an illustrated reference that is complemented by professional tips on how to store and use antiques safely. Original. 20,000 first printing.

Modern Japanese Ceramics (Paperback) $22.69 For more than 30 years, Dr. Anneliese and Dr. Wulf Crueger—guided by Saeko Itô—have devoted themselves to studying, understanding, and collecting Japanese ceramics. Today, they share the rich fruits of their knowledge with this lavishly illustrated volume based on their own collection. The equivalent of Roberts Museum Guide, devotees of beautiful ceramics can pick it up and use it to select and visit potters as they undertake an artistic tour of the country. Organized geographically, it goes from kiln to kiln—which in Japan may refer to a lone site or an entire ceramics region that contains hundreds of workshops. Along the way, they outline the history, development, and unique stylistic characteristics of each area’s work, and the traditions that inspired it.

Antiques, 12 issues for 1 year(s) $39.95 Antiques the Magazine is for collectors of antiques and works of art and for students of early American social history and culture. Its feature articles deal with furniture, painting, sculpture, prints, architecture, ceramics, glass and textiles. Some focus is also placed on the arts and antiquities of western European countries and England from the seventeenth through the nineteenth centuries.

Miller`s Antiques Encyclopedia (Hardcover) $39.82 Compiled by an international team of over 40 distinguished consultants and writers, Miller`s Antiques Encyclopedia is the "bible" of the antiques world. No other book covers the subject with unmatched breadth, depth, and authority: it explains materials, marks, and techniques; provides clues to identification and dating; and offers hints on what to consider when examining antiques. That`s why contemporary collectors, dealers, and auctioneers continue to need this outstanding and accessible resource on everything from ancient Chinese ceramics to Art Deco sculpture, 18th century chairs to 20th century Barbie dolls, and Native American rugs to toy robots. It showcases examples from across the world, giving an international perspective on antiques and the history of design. And new sections on Mid-Century Modern and Postmodern work make this the must-have, expert-authenticated guide to the subject.

Inside Japanese Ceramics $19.72 This practical and supremely useful manual is the first comprehensive, hands-on introduction to Japanese ceramics. The Japanese ceramics tradition is without compare in its technical and stylistic diversity, its expressive content, and the level of appreciation it enjoys, both in Japan and around the world. Inside Japanese Ceramics focuses on tools, materials, and procedures, and how all of these have influenced the way traditional Japanese ceramics look and feel. A true primer, it concentrates on the basics: setting up a workshop, pot-forming techniques, decoration, glazes, and kilns and firing. It introduces the major methods and styles that are taught in most Japanese workshops, including several representative and well-known wares: Bizen, Mino, Karatsu, Hagi, and Kyoto. While presenting the time-tested techniques of the tradition, author Richard L. Wilson also accommodates modern technologies and materials as appropriate. Wilson has gathered a wealth of information on two fronts—as a researcher of Japanese pottery and art history, and as a potter who has studied and worked for years with master Japanese potters. In his introduction, he provides a short history of Japanese ceramics, and in closing he looks beyond traditional methods toward ways in which Western potters can make Japanese methods their own. Richly illustrated with 24 color plates, over 100 black-and-white photographs, and over 70 instructive line-drawings, Inside Japanese Ceramics is indispensable for potters as well as connoisseurs and collectors of Japanese ceramics. Above all, it is an invitation to participate—to study, make, touch, and use the exquisite products of the Japanese ceramic tradition.

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