Ceramics, mosaic and glass: artworks Books

Book SynopsisTransform 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!Trade ReviewDesign your own bespoke ceramics with the help of Painting on Pottery by Tania Zaoui. There's tips on how to use basic ceramic paints, crockery and your own oven to create beautiful pieces with infinite possibilities. The inspiring projects will have you salvaging mis-matching plates, bowls and mugs to give them a new lease of life. * Crafts Beautiful *This is a lovely colourful book with detailed instruction for all you’ll need to attempt 22 different pottery painting projects. I really like the layout, it’s been well thought out. The book begins with basic techniques so you are able to establish what equipment you will need and safety measures you’ll need to be aware of. These basic instructions are easy follow and well laid out. I particularly like the colour sample list so you can see what each paint colour turns out after baking. This is followed by basic techniques for applying paints and how to get various effects using different engraving or scratching techniques. Once you’ve absorbed this information the book is then divided into a series of projects which are well laid out rather like a recipe book, lovely pictures, a list of what equipment you’ll require followed by easy to follow instruction. You can take any piece of plain pottery and transform it into a modern masterpiece of your own design. The projects are varied and would appeal to a wide range of people across all age groups and either sex. Highly recommended. -- Dawn Walsh * Customer review *Great book. Loads of ideas with very clear instructions and helpful photos! Very much recommended -- Bea Smith * Customer review *This is a lovely, glossy, well-photographed book. Full of basic instructions on how to paint ceramics. All in all though, colourful and informative. -- Jane Symonds * Customer review *For anyone who likes ceramics but doesn't have a kiln this is a super handy book. Instructions are clear and well explained with colour photographs on every page. I particularly like the small bowls and mosaic-effect tiles but I am not a fan of the wall decoration. Everything is achievable and 22 is a lot of possible projects. -- Jude Lovatt * Customer review *Loved the book. Very informative and easy to use. Inspired me to have a go. Nice bright pictures. Items shown seem manageable which will give confidence in achieving a finished item. -- Claire Holmes * Customer review *This book was very inspiring in decorating pottery pieces. I found the techniques in the book transferable to other forms of art such as textile printing. I do feel that this book is suited well to younger audiences or those new to the art of pottery. -- Karen Callis * Customer review *If you love painted ceramics, patterns and making little gifts, this book is for you. You don't need pottery classes, or a kiln, just paint shop bought ceramics then bake them in a domestic oven. Editor Anne had great fun with her grand-daughter decorating bowls, mugs and a necklace. Grab a few brushes, some ceramic paints and off you go! * Machine Knitting Monthly *Table of ContentsBasic techniques 8 Colour chart 8 Instructions 9 Creating different effects 11 For the Dining Table 13 Small Bowls 15 Egg Cups 19 Blue and Copper Plates 22 Cup and Saucer 23 Lucky Eye Coffee Set 29 For the Living Room 33 Flowerpots 35 Pen Pot and Change Tray 38 Wall Decoration 39 Vases 45 Lamp 48 Upcycled Vases 49 For the Kitchen 55 Carafe and Goblet 57 Kitchen Utensils Pot 60 Small Coffee Jars 61 Mosaic-effect Tiles 67 Leopard Plate 71 For the Bathroom 75 Japanese Flower Bowls 76 Toothbrush Holder and Soap Dish 77 China Earrings 83 Blue and Gold Tray and Mug 86 Necklace 87 Ring Holder 93

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Book SynopsisFocusing on the pottery surface, Carve Your Clay covers a wide range of decorative carving techniques, from piercing, etching, inlaying to sgraffito, faceting, and fettling. The techniques are taught through 20 projects in Hilda’s signature style, with clear, step-by-step photography and easy-to-follow instructions to achieve beautiful results. With easy guides on how to create form as well as glazing and firing, this is a comprehensive guide suitable for new and practising potters alike.Trade ReviewFocusing on the pottery surface this book covers a wide range of decorative carving techniques, from incising, combing, inlaying to sgraffito, faceting and fettling. The techniques are taught through 16 projects with clear step-by-step photographs and easy-to-follow instructions. With easy guides on how to create form as well as information on glazing and firing, this is a comprehensive guide suitable for potters of all skill levels. * Emerging Potters *Table of ContentsContents Meet Hilda Chapter One: Introduction to Carving Chapter Two: Tools Chapter Three: Inspiration Chapter Four: The Projects 1. Serving plate – sgraffito 2. Sink tidy – Mishima inlay 3. Jug – faceting 4. Candle holder – piercing 5. Hanging planter – fettling 6. Utensil jar – carving agateware 7. Bottle vase – combing 8. Serving tray – carving and impressing 9. Wall tiles – geometric carving 10. Noodle bowl – carving during throwing 11. Mug – faceting 12. Mini cactus planter – sgraffito on glaze 13. Planter – carving 14. Cylinder vase – sgraffito 15. Serving bowl – organic carving 16. “Initial” coaster – sgraffito using printed template 17. Cup – multi-layered carving of a slip-cast form 18. Stem vase – etching 19. Salad bowl – relief carving 20. Pie dish – wire cutting Index

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Book SynopsisThe teabowl has become an iconic form in contemporary ceramics. Having travelled from Japan, where it was an inherent part of chanoyu, or tea ceremony, it has evolved and adapted to become something very different in the West. Revered for its associations of its past and its connotations of sophistication and simplicity, the teabowl enjoys an elevated status. Here, Bonnie Kemske looks at the form as a whole, considering the history and ideas behind the original tea ceremony: how it moved into contemporary ceramics, and the way it is used today. She explores the wide range of teabowls, from traditional ones to those being made not for the tearoom but for the gallery, as well as introducing the international potters making them. The book also tackles some difficult questions, notably, how has the concept of the teabowl changed as it has been reinvented in contemporary ceramics? How does it sit in relation to its history? This book is wide in scope, thorough in Trade ReviewBonnie Kemske has crafted a compelling and deeply personal meditation on the power of the teabowl in Japan and in the world of ceramics today. This volume is beautifully illustrated and attentive to an array of historic and contemporary teabowls. * Morgan Pitelka, Professor of Asian Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA, and author of Handmade Culture (2005) and Spectacular Accumulation (2015) *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction: The Iconic Teabowl 1. Tea and the Tea Ceremony 2. Ceramics History 3. The Teabowl Travels 4. From Tearoom to Gallery Conclusion: The Iconic Teabowl – Past and Present Endnotes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA fresh, unstuffy guide to the stained-glass windows of England's churches, including a list of the top 50 places to see outstanding examples. The magical qualities of stained glass have an enduring appeal, but church windows tend to be ignored as a form of creative and artistic expression. Yet churches are accessible treasure trove of history, art and craftsmanship. No other set of historic buildings with such superb and important architectural and artists assets is as easy to visit. How to Look at Stained Glass is the companion guide that's needed to make sense of and enjoy the vast array of stained-glass windows in the churches of England. This fresh, unstuffy guide: - Uses an A-Z format to reveal a multitude of fascinating details - all the way from apples to zig-zags - Explores stained glass by themes, patterns, designs and effects - Requires no previous historical, artistic or religious knowledge - Covers all the major periods and styles, from medieval to modern, Victorian to postwar, eighteenth century to Arts and Crafts, figurative to abstract - Examines the fascinating and evolving iconography of stained glass - Makes looking at gloriously colourful, artistically important windows both entertaining and rewarding - Features a list of the top 50 places to see outstanding examples - Offers a useful index of churches by countyTrade ReviewIf you venture out into the country, whether by car, bicycle, or train, it would be a good idea to tuck this book into the glove compartment, pannier, or rucksack * Church Times *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Exploring a Church How a Stained-Glass Window is Made A–Z of Stained Glass 50 Places to See Stained Glass Further Reading List of Images Index of Churches

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Book SynopsisMastering Kilns and Firing is an all-in-one resource for potters looking to go beyond the electric kiln.Trade ReviewPotters who are ready to explore new atmospheric firing techniques will find Mastering Kilns & Firing to be an indispensable guide. Lindsay introduces each type of firing from an approachable, collaborative perspective with inspiring examples of contemporary work by a variety of artists. She guides readers so they not only learn the basics needed to achieve success, but also feel empowered to experiment, explore, and have fun. * Jessica Knapp, editor, Ceramics Monthly *Mastering Kilns & Firing offers a wealth of knowledge. Oesterritter's dedication both to processes and the community-building they inspire are apparent in her competent writing and echoed in the beautiful guest artist galleries. This text should be a staple of any clay worker’s library. * Elenor Wilson, editor, Studio Potter Journal *Lindsay, a master of deep, rich surfaces, has written a personal, professional, and all-around practical guide to kilns and firing. Her years of teaching and experience as a maker are obvious in this book. It will save you countless hours on your own ceramic journey. * Simon Levin, potter, kiln builder, and Fulbright Scholar *Lindsay has produced a gorgeous and invaluable book for people with all levels of interest and skill. Clear prose and excellent presentation make this book a page-turner; I repeatedly found myself wondering what exquisite beauty and careful explanation lay ahead. * Bill Griffith, educator, administrator, and artist, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts *Based on her many years of experience as an educator and as a professional potter, Lindsay gives the reader well-informed insight regarding what to consider, how to prepare, and those all-important health and safety concerns when working with kilns and firing. * Robert Sanderson, co-editor, The Log Book, International Wood-fired Ceramics Publication *Accessible and readable, this book brings clarity and refreshing insight into the often-cumbersome process of wood- and alternative-firings. It is well organized and richly illustrated, covering all the bases. * Peter R. Beasecker, potter and professor of art, Syracuse University *Table of ContentsForeword Introduction 1. GETTING STARTED Basic Safety Clay 15 Cone Packs Cleaning Wood Storage & Sourcing 2. KILN FUNDAMENTALS Kiln Anatomy Kiln Material Considerations Flame Path Personal Considerations 3. RAKU Making Work for Raku Preparing Work for Raku The Reduction Chamber & Combustibles Kiln Design & Firing Techniques Firing Gallery 4. PIT & BARREL Making Work for Pit Firing Preparing Work for Pit Firing Loading the Kiln Kiln Design Firing Gallery 5. WOOD FIRING Making Work for Wood Firing Wadding Loading a Kiln Firing Common Questions & Concerns Unloading & Evaluating a Firing Gallery 6. FURTHER EXPLORATIONS Fuel Source Framework Firing Variations Fire as Performance Gallery Recipes Acknowledgments About the Author Index

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Book SynopsisA guide to the historical and technical side of salt glazing with work from leading international salt glazing artists. Salt-glazing has a long history, from its early use in German storage jars, then in Victorian industrial sewage pipes to its current position as one of the most exciting areas of studio ceramics. In this book, Phil Rogers teaches you all aspects of this very special glazing technique. Starting with a brief overview of the history of salt glazing, he then discusses the technical considerations that set this form of glazing apart from all others. Given particular consideration are kilns, which are such an important factor in this technique. Finally, discover the work of the world's leading artists using this particular medium. Salt glazing, with its distinctive 'orange peel' surface, has long attracted both makers and collectors. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this book is a must on the reference shelves of all ceramicists and collectors or studio ceramics, but it should particularly appeal to all those who enjoy the wonderful surface textures that this medium provides.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Clay Bodies Suitable for Salt Glazing 3. Slips and Glazes for the Salt Kiln 4. Decoration 5. The Salt Kiln 6. Stacking a Salt Kiln 7. Firing a Salt Kiln 8. Environmental Concerns over Salt Firing 9. Profiles Appendix Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn less than two decades, Jacoba van Heemskerck (1876–1923) created a powerful oeuvre comprising paintings, woodcuts, glass works and mosaics. Her expressive subjects, including landscapes, townscapes and harbour scenes, are characterised by luminosity and increasing transparency, by rhythmical compositions of the pictorial space, black contours and an intensive use of colour. After her artistic beginnings in the circle around Mondrian and elsewhere, Jacoba van Heemskerck belonged to the centre of the avant-garde movement emanating from the “Sturm” of Herwarth Walden in Berlin – the gallerist and publisher who made artists like Marc, Kandinsky and Jawlensky famous. Her work is shaped by her orientation towards Anthroposophy, which bears witness to her interest in the elemental effect of light and colour on the viewer. Her creative work is highly topical today thanks to her understanding of nature and the cosmos as a world viewed as a whole.Trade Review“Recommended for all art libraries.” * ARLIS/NA Reviews *

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Book SynopsisCreative and practical, Kicking Glass is a step-by-step guide for those wanting to practice the popular craft of stained glass. From simple suncatchers and boho lamps to exquisite 3D constructions and delicately-poised glass butterflies, experienced artist Neile Cooper guides you through the magical world of stained glass with a creative handbook for both the novice and more experienced crafter alike. Beautifully illustrated with photographs of Neile’s own work including her glorious glass cabin in the woods as well as pieces from some of today’s most stylish designers, Kicking Glass is packed with ideas to guide and inspire. This book provides comprehensive technical instruction in the copper foil method, covering everything from tools and supplies to exploratory techniques such as including foraged and found objects into your work. Skills are demonstrated through tutorials with photos, instructional drawings and 16 stunning patterns. Whether you’re looking to decorate your windows, create lovely gifts for friends and family or design your own epic masterpiece, Kicking Glass is the essential modern guide to stained glass making.Trade ReviewA thorough, enthusiastic guide to the art, full of beautiful projects, helpful advice, and inspiring thoughts from working stained glass artists * Foreword *Novices can expect all the familiar faces of how-to books: tools and supplies, an examination of materials, and clear directions on finishing, all well illustrated with quality color photographs. * Booklist *Neile’s warm and supportive approach comes across as she shares the vision behind the creation of her own sanctuary – a cabin in her garden that she is lovingly decorating with reclaimed window frames and stained glass designs based on her love of the natural world. [...] Kicking Glass offers comprehensive training and a liberal helping of motivation through beautiful imagery and practical designs to try. * Contemporary Glass Society *When I’m ready to dip my toes, Kicking Glass by Neile Cooper is where I’ll begin exploring this gorgeous hobby. Cooper’s thorough tome walks beginners through setting up a space, picking out supplies, and basic techniques required for creating stained glass. * The Mercury *The photography is stellar with lushly colorful clear pictures and tutorial explanations. The author provides project lists with tools and supplies and step by step instructions. The book feels like a small, well organized workshop with a well spoken and competent teacher. The projects are varied and attractive and are a mix of more traditional looking and modern. -- Nonstop ReaderThe book is full of beautiful, full colour illustrations, and instructions are easy to follow, if not easy to master. This is great guide for anyone considering starting in the hobby. -- Novel ObsessionTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Studio setup & safety Tools & supplies Glass Cutting glass Using patterns Foiling Layout Soldering Finishing Clean, patina, & polish Designing patterns Suncatchers 3D construction Reclaimed windows Patterns Suppliers

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Book SynopsisChinese ceramics and their glazes have delighted and enthralled the world for centuries. In this book, Nigel Wood traces the development of Chinese glazes from the Bronze Age to the present day. He carefully describes how Chinese glazes were made, and how they evolved over some 3000 years of continuous production. He provides analyses and shows how their superb qualities can be reproduced with common Western raw materials. The book is lavishly illustrated with hundreds of colour plates of Chinese potters and Chinese kilns.Table of ContentsIntroduction Author’s Note Acknowledgements 1. Neolithic and Bronze Age Ceramics 2. South China’s Early Lime Glazes 3. The Porcelain Glazes of Southern China 4. Longquan, Guan and Ge 5. The Porcelains of North China 6. The Stonewares of North China 7. The Blackwares and Brownwares of China 8. Iron in Chinese Glazes 9. Copper in Chinese Glazes 10. Chinese Low-fired Glazes 11. Chinese Alkaline Glazes 12. Chinese Overglaze Enamels 13. Reconstruction of Chinese Glazes 14. Glaze Recipes Chronology Index

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Book SynopsisThe technique of soda glazing in ceramics is becoming more popular with potters, because, like salt glazing, it produces an attractive orange-peel texture to the object to be glazed, yet offers a more subtle range of colours while being more environmentally friendly.The author of this book discusses the history and techniques of soda glazing, giving plans of kilns and detailed notes on how to produce this attractive effect. She compares its similarities to and differences from salt glazing.As air pollution causes increasing concern, and as governments legislate accordingly, soda glazing is likely to be used as a more welcome alternative to salt glazing.The work of an international group of ceramic artists is used to illustrate the text.

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Book SynopsisJoin ceramic artist Emily Reinhardt to learn how to decorate pottery surfaces with glazes, gold luster, patterns and marks, inlay designs, dimensional shapes, and much more. With an emphasis on learning new skills, having fun, and embracing imperfection, The Beginner’s Guide to Decorating Potterysupports your creative process as you explore:   Basic information on working with clays as well as materials used for decorating. Tutorials on color theory, combining form and function, and the importance of keeping a sketchbook. Beginner-friendly projects that show how to apply surface-design techniques to simple pieces such as coasters, a cheeseboard, a wall hanging, plates, tumblers, vases, planters, and more. Throughout the book, skill-building is front and center, with tips and tricks to help you crack the code and make pieces you’re proud of. Gallery work from some oTrade Review"Functional and beautiful, this book will likely inspire readers want to perfect their pottery techniques." * Library Journal STARRED Review *"A helpful primer on ceramic surface design techniques...This is worth a look." * Publishers Weekly *"Profusely illustrated throughout with color photographs, The Beginner's Guide to Decorating Pottery is an ideal DIY combination of instructional guide and 'how to' manual, providing thoroughly 'user friendly step-by-step instructions that will turn the most novice of potters into seasoned experts. Fun and informative." * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsForeword by Amy Santoferraro Introduction You Are an Artist, and This Is an Art Book My Path to Ceramics How to Develop Your Artistic Style How to Build and Maintain a Creative Practice Ceramics for Self-Care Living a Creative Life Embracing Imperfection Why Ceramic Surface Design Is So Exciting 1 TOOLS AND MATERIALS FOR GETTING STARTED The Studio and Safety, Tools and Equipment, Materials , Gallery 2 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK Choosing a Clay Body, Additive and Subtractive Relief Designs, Understanding Underglazes, Getting to Know Your Glazes, Applying Glazes, Overglaze and Luster, Decorations, Inlaying Colored Clay, Troubleshooting, Gallery 3 PLANNING YOUR SURFACE DESIGN The Intellectual Approach, Form, Color, Pattern, Texture, Function, Keeping a Sketchbook, Gallery 4 IDEAS FOR GETTING STARTED Set of Coasters, Beads, Spoons, Wall Hangings, Abstract Cheeseboards, Set of Cups, Set of Dinner Plates with Inlaid Clay Designs, Handbuilt Vases with Heavily Layered Glazes, Drip and Splatter Platter, Planters with Additive Designs, Gallery Contributing Artists Resources Acknowledgments About the Author Index

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Book SynopsisFull of surprises [and] evocative. The Spectator Passionately written. Apollo An extraordinary accomplishment. Edmund de Waal Monumental. Times Literary SupplementAn epic reshaping of ceramic art. Crafts An important book. The Arts Society Magazine In his major new history, Paul Greenhalgh tells the story of ceramics as a story of human civilisation, from the Ancient Greeks to the present day. As a core craft technology, pottery has underpinned domesticity, business, religion, recreation, architecture, and art for millennia. Indeed, the history of ceramics parallels the development of human society.This fascinating and very human history traces the story of ceramic art and industry from the Ancient Greeks to the Romans and the medieval world; Islamic ceramic cultures and their influence on the Italian Renaissance; Chinese and European porcelain production; modernity and Art Nouveau; the rise of the studTrade ReviewGreenhalgh describes the fluctuating status of pots and potters throughout history in connection with the technical development of ceramic as an industry and the emergence of the artist potter… [He] takes us from ancient Greece to the wilder shores of Conceptual Art, Post-Modernism and Californian Funk… Full of surprises [and] provocative * Jane Rye, The Spectator *Passionately written… At the end of his book, Greenhalgh writes that, ‘far more than religion, or war, or academic treatises, skill shaped civilisation’. So true, and there is no better example than ceramics. One closes this compendious history with a breathless feeling: what will potters come up with next? * Glenn Adamson, Apollo *This is an extraordinary accomplishment. It animates the history of world ceramics in a manner that has not been achieved before. It is full of remarkable insight and beautiful details and will reach a huge and appreciative audience. -- Edmund de Waal, artist and writer, UKThis is an important book. History has not examined the ceramic consistently. It has not always given the medium of clay credence for the part it has played in art. Greenhalgh puts this to rights. He gives the ceramic its rightful context and underlines its importance, telling its story from around 600 BC to the contemporary. And he tackles fundamentals: examining what ceramic is and how it featured in the Classical world, Middle Ages, Renaissance and on through Modernism to now. * The Arts Society Magazine *Ambitious [and] indeed monumental… Greenhalgh's enthusiasm for his subject is persuasively infectious and the narrative rarely flags over the book's more than 500 pages. The text is enhanced by 409 superb illustrations, intelligently arranged on the page and so captioned to make the reader look, and look again. * Times Literary Supplement *An epic reshaping of ceramic art… an adventure that I am already impatient to revisit. * Shane Enright, Crafts *This comprehensive text on ceramics – and the culture surrounding it – discussed its critical role in civilization over millennia, historical era in ceramic art, and the contemporary role of the potter. * Ceramic Arts 2022 Yearbook, a supplement to Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Making Illustrated *A fresh, eloquent and persuasive polemic that reads like a thriller. * Decorative Arts Society *If you're after some excellent lockdown reading, Paul Greenhalgh's fascinating book could just fit the bill. * ClayCraft *A glorious edition ... The photographs of excellent ceramic examples, the clear historical explanations and the pages of other interesting ceramic related information are enchanting. * London Potters *This is a splendid production, lavishly illustrated with superb images. It is a book to be ‘dipped into’ for reference, information, or simple fascination ... For art historians and ceramic enthusiasts, this is an outstanding book. * Anglian Potters *This comprehensive text on ceramics--and the culture surrounding it--discusses its critical role in civilization over millennia, historical eras in ceramic art, and the contemporary role of the potter. * Ceramic Arts 2022 Yearbook, a supplement to the US magazines Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Making Illustrated *Fascinating. * Emerging Potters *Greenhalgh’s scholarship brings the rapture he feels for ceramics to life in this beautifully written and readable book. It provokes, delights, informs and exposes ceramic’s complicity in civilization’s birth, moving on to the present with the author’s contemporary, witty and ruthlessly critical voice. -- Garth Clark, historian, writer, founder and Editor-in-Chief of the CFile Foundation, USANot for a long time has there been such a comprehensive account of the history of ceramics. In this book Paul Greenhalgh captures the importance of the material to our human experience. -- Dame Professor Magdalene Odundo OBE, Emerita in Ceramics and Chancellor of the University for the Creative Arts, UKMasterful. Paul Greenhalgh has engaged the epic span of ceramic art history with a maker’s hands, shaping it into a magnificent, vibrant form, filled to capacity with the voices of individuals, both unknown and known, who devoted their lives to earth and fire … Greenhalgh’s text is a remarkable container of sophisticated insight. It offers a longed-for coherent structure upon which to build an understanding of ceramic art as it has unfolded across the near immeasurable scope of human civilization. -- Wayne Higby, Professor of Ceramic Art, The Wayne Higby Director and Chief Curator, Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred University, USAGreenhalgh fills a major gap in the ceramics field where technique most often sets the content. His writing elevates the conversation and takes ceramics beyond its formal history to where it is effectively placed in a cultural context. His curatorial eye adds a perspective on the work not often found in such a survey. Thoroughly researched, expansive in both its timeline and depth, this book is a welcome resource for researchers and serious students of clay, as well as those with a general interest in ceramics. -- Anna Callouri Holcombe, Professor of Ceramics, University of Florida, USAPaul Greenhalgh takes the reader on a multi-faceted voyage exploring the long, complex history of a commonplace material and its intimate connection to human life. From humble to high society, hand or machine, meaning and function, this book is a revelatory celebration of the creativity, invention and skill of individuals and societies producing and using ceramic. -- Helen Walsh, Curator, Centre of Ceramic Art, York Art Gallery, UKSince the earliest of times, across myriad civilisations that have come and gone, ceramics endure. Each sherd tells us of the discipline’s discreet history, but also so much more. Ceramics form the fabric of societies and their anthropological connections to individuals and societies paint detailed and intimate pictures. Paul Greenhalgh takes the reader across the centuries citing links and dialogues between the modern and the ancient. To be able to step back and take in the panoply of this vast subject and select appropriate and relevant examples is an affirming indicator of a deep, specialist and eloquent knowledge. There are very few people qualified to take on a task such as this. Greenhalgh is one of a few and probably the best equipped to do so. -- Ashley Howard, Senior Lecturer in Ceramics, University for the Creative Arts, UKTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Prologue: A History in Shards CHAPTER 1. WHAT CERAMIC IS 1. Fundamentals 2. Stuff of the Earth 3. The Art of Heat 4. The Potter 5. Nomenclature and Culture 6. The Ceramic Continuum 7. Transformers: Classicism, Islam, China, and the Modern 8. The Discipline 9. Industry and the Levels of Production 10. Ubiquity: The Plastic of the Ancient World 11. Telling Stories 12. Civilisation, Power, and Domestic Life 13. Conclusion: Western Ceramic CHAPTER 2: THE VALUE OF THE GREEK POTTER 1. The World in Black and Red 2. Positioning the Pots 3. The Earlier Greek World 4. Reducing Iron and Oxygen 5. Who Were These People? 6. Secular Life 7. Anachronism, the Value, and the Price of Things 8. The Value and the Price of Things 9. Conclusion: The Spread of Red and Black CHAPTER 3: ROME AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE MEDIEVAL WORLD 1. The Feel of Roman Pots 2. Red Gloss 3. The Pots of Empire 4. Greece, Rome, and the Classical Idea 5. Standardisation 6. Dark, Light, an End and a Beginning 7. Europe: The Coarse and the Local 8. Revivalism and the Vernacular 9. Conclusion: The Classical Heritage CHAPTER 4: RENAISSANCES OF TIN 1. The Chemistry of Islam 2. Islam and Ceramic History 3. The Pottery Revolution 4. Islam in Europe 5. Renaissance Pots 6. Colour, Line and Life 7. Secular Life 8. Pottery and Painting 9. Quantity, Quality, and Status 10. The Arrival of the Meal 11. Sculptural Form 12. Italian Potters and Potteries 13. Renaissances 14. Conclusion: a European Ethos CHAPTER 5: THE ENLIGHTENED REIGN OF WHITE 1. Chinese Pots 2. Technology, Style, Confidence 3. Porcelain City 4. China in Europe 5. The Quest for a European Porcelain 6. The Porcelain Explosion 7. Blue, White, War, and Peace 8. Delftware 9. Frivolity and Melancholy: the Figurine Reinvented 10. The Rise of Staffordshire 11. Conclusion: Modern Whiteness CHAPTER 6: THE NATURAL AND THE INDIVIDUAL: LEAD, SLIP, STONE, SALT 1. History, the Collective, and the Individual 2. The Renaissance Man 3. The Palissystes 4. The Salt Renaissance 5. Prose and Poetry 6. The Nature of Slip 7. Configuring Life 8. The Arrival of America 9. Conclusion: The Ingredients of Modernity CHAPTER 7: THE ACCELERATION OF STYLE AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE MODERN 1. Decoration, Complication, and Anxiety 2. The Last Transformer: Another Modernity 3. Institutionalisation 4. Exhibitions 5. Ugliness and the Era 6. The Invention of Style 7. Design Reform and the Ingredients of Modern Design 8. The Meaning of Majolica 9. The Vortex of Large-scale Production 10. The Republic of Tile 11. Ceramic Hell 12. Gender 13. Exoticism 14. The Designer 15. The Art Nouveau style 16. Conclusion: High Eclecticism to Art Nouveau CHAPTER 8: THE STUDIO ARRIVES 1. A Modern Place 2. Art Pottery 3. Defining Art 4. The Invention of Craft 5. The Completeness of Existence 6. The Artist-potter 7. Émigrés 8. Art Deco 9. The International Style 10. Mid-century Modern 11. Potters and Painters 12. Conclusion: A World is Formed CHAPTER 9: THE CREATIVE EXPLOSION 1. Thunderous Emotion 2. Another Modernity 3. The World of Funk 4. Conceptualism and Minimalism 5. A New Arena 6. New American Symbolism 7. The Ceramic Landscape 8. Abstract Vessels 9. Postmodernism 10. The New Ornamentalism 11. Conclusion: The Potter Now Postscript: Attica to California Notes Bibliography Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisWe all use ceramics on a daily basis without thinking much about it, except when it comes to a favourite mug or cup, for instance. Why is it a favourite? Is it that it holds just the right amount of tea or coffee? Is it that it sits comfortably in the hand with an ample handle that allows you to hold it safely? Is it the clay the cup is made from — a fine porcelain or robust stoneware? Is it the rustic shape or refined, delicate, traditional or contemporary design? Maybe you just like the pattern on the outside! Whatever the reason, someone will have been thinking about the ergonomics of the cup when they designed and made it and all the other ceramic items that you use, to ensure they work perfectly and give you pleasure to handle and serve your food and drink in. This book is a visual feast of ideas and advice to guide the maker through the process of designing and making successful functional ceramics that are practical and appealing in equal measure. It adopts a low-tech approach that is understandable and accessible for all and begins with the basic questions you will need to address before you begin. Each element of the process will be carefully considered, from deciding the function of the item to working out proportions and making basic drawings, to choosing the right clay, tools, and making method, and finally glazing and firing, including safety issues and the essential topic of suitability for food. Each chapter begins by presenting a varied range of basic shapes, be they thrown or hand built. The next section demonstrates a wide selection of handles, rims, feet, lids, knobs, spouts, lips, and other details that can be mixed and matched to form unique designs with personality and functionality. Working the whole process out in advance can reap tremendous rewards, ensuring the maker gets it right first time but also allowing the process to be repeated with minimum effort. From idea to finished item, this book will be the essential guide to all the techniques required to make functional ceramics that really work and give lasting pleasure to use.Trade ReviewThis practical and very elegant book concentrates on the actual making of everyday ceramics. Basic making methods of throwing, coiling and slabbing are explored, but does not look at surface decoration or slip casting and jigger/jolly have been omitted as they require a different level of technical skill. It is a project book aimed at the maker with a small studio or someone attending a studio. What the book does look at is the making. Chapters include health and safety, capturing ideas, the right clay, firing and basic glazes. Cups and mugs feature in chapter two followed by jugs and boats, plates and platters, bowls, dishes, casserole, teapots, and making methods. Each chapter has step-by-step photos of the process, together with different handle and spout making for each project. Throughout, the book is lavishly illustrated with photographs and copious amounts of notes and hints on how to best approach a project. For the beginner it is a must. * Emerging Potters *I am not a potter, but I do love pottery and would like to be able to make my own. This book provides a thorough insight into the process and includes a wide variety of projects from mugs, to jugs to teapots! Not all require a wheel - coiling and slabbing are covered too. I feel inspired to have a go! -- Myra ArmsonBeautiful book filled with lots of wonderful ideas and projects to make. I love how it gives you an overview of what's needed to make everything it gives you a really good idea of where to start. * Ella Eske *This book has got me very excited & enthusiastic about taking up Pottery. * Alan Snowbal *An interesting read, lots of illustrations, photos and guidance on different types of clay and styles of pottery to be made. As a non potter i feel i would be inclined to read a beginners guide to pottery and ceramics, by the same author first if i were going to delve into the pottery world to gain more basic knowledge. * Becca Blackwell *Ramp up your pottery skills with this specialized manual, as British ceramics professional and author Atkin offers design techniques to reduce errors in finished pieces. With projects including simple mugs and stylish teapots, tips and options are highlighted throughout, focusing on the construction rather than finishes. This polished book is a lovely addition to the field of pottery. The projects are attractive and well explained. It’s not a beginner’s manual, however—throwing technique is briefly covered, and explanations on the use of tools, materials, firing, and glazes are cursory. VERDICT Highly recommended for intermediate students still working through the fine details of potterymaking. * Library Journal USA *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One - Before you begin Planning Getting your ideas down on paper Formers and templates The right choice of clay Glaze and other decorating mediums Chapter Two - Cups and mugs Design decisions Thrown mug Hand-built mug Pinched mug Handles for mugs Chapter Three - Teapots Design decisions Thrown teapot Coiled teapots Slabbed teapots The essential non-drip spout for teapots Handles for teapots Lids and knobs for teapots Chapter Four - Pitchers and Boats Design decisions Thrown pitchers Lips or snips Coiled pitchers Slabbed pitchers Pinched pitchers Handles for pitchers Chapter Five - Plates, saucers and platters Design decisions Thrown plates Slabbed plates Saucers Platters Chapter Six - Bowls, dishes and casseroles Design decisions Thrown bowls Coiled bowls and dishes Slabbed bowls and dishes Handles, lugs, feet and knobs for dishes Chapter Seven - Basic making methods Glossary, index and credits

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Book SynopsisThe Potter's Dictionary of Materials and Techniques provides a comprehensive guide to the tools, materials and techniques of ceramic art. Structured in an accessible A-Z format, and packed with full-colour illustrations and sound, practical explanations, this reference work is widely known as the potter's bible'. The 6th edition of this classic text has been thoroughly updated, with new entries on topics ranging from aerogel to smoke crackle, and from teabowls to 3D printing, as well as many revised and updated entries. The Dictionary also includes useful technical and resource information. For the first time, the book is presented in full colour, with images showing ceramics material, processes and products.A must-have resource for every potter's studio, workshop or bookshelf, The Potter's Dictionary is the essential companion for anyone working in clay.

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Book SynopsisA scholar and an artist explore the contemporary meaning of Korean Joseon-dynasty porcelain, renowned for its beguiling minimalism.

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Book SynopsisCovers the various aspects of contemporary ceramic practice and includes work of all scales from a few centimetres in size to vast room-sized installations. With over 600 illustrations, this comprehensive survey is suitable for ceramists, students and collectors alike.Trade Review'Its scope is exemplary, and his selection likely to be the subject of lively and valuable controversy ... This is a sourcebook of the highest calibre' - Crafts Magazine'Beautiful' - The Daily TelegraphTable of ContentsIntroduction • Beyond Utility – bold and original, yet functional ceramics, including tea sets, cups, teapots and dinner services Defining Space – the vessel and its relationship to space and the void, featuring wheel-thrown shapes, slip-cast forms and hand-built structures Mind the Gap – the plasticity of clay and its earthy associations, including sculptural work from precise and mechanical to freely modelled forms • A Sense of Space – installations, the site-specific and the environmental • The Line of Beauty – new creative possibilities and collaborations between art and industry, many of which have resulted from recent advances in technology

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Book SynopsisMeet over 120 innovative ceramic artists through 495 striking color photos of original work from around the globe. From small objects for use and ornamentation to large-scale sculptures, see earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain finished in a variety of techniques. The artists share the inspiring influences that drive them year after year. This beautiful pictorial reference will become prized by ceramic art collectors, dealers, galleries, and artists alike.

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Book SynopsisThis richly illustrated book showcases a previously unseen and virtually unknown historical collection of Chinese ceramics, formed in the early twentieth century by George Eumorfopoulos, a pivotal figure in the appreciate of Asian art. Taken together, these artifacts, now located at the Benaki Museum in Athens, Greece, build a rare time capsule of Western tastes and preoccupations with the East in the decades prior to World War II. The years between the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1911 and the establishment of the People s Republic of China in 1949 marked an opening up of China to the rest of the world and coincided with the first archaeological excavations of the country s early cultures. Working at the time in London, a center of imperialist power and global finance, Eumorfopoulos and his colleagues were instrumental in acquiring, assessing, interpreting, and manipulating the unearthed objects. The years of isolation that followed this period allowed aspects of his approach to become canonical, influencing later scholarly research on Chinese material culture.This groundbreaking exploration of approximately one hundred artifacts is not only an important account of Eumorfopoulos s work, but also a story about China and the West and the role antique materials played in their cultural interplay. "

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Book SynopsisCollects the breadth and range of ceramic techniques. This title includes a guide to forming techniques, from pinch, coil, slab and wheel to mold-making, slip casting and extrusion, with sections on slip decoration, embossing and glazing, glaze recipes and applications.Trade Review'This is quite the guide … a very helpful book for those doing ceramics. The illustrations are wonderful. The instructions are clear and to the point' - Reference ReviewsTable of ContentsIntroduction • Materials, Processes and Tools • Forming Techniques • Surface Decoration (Pre-firing) • Firing • Glazes • Surface Decoration (Post-glaze) • Design • Professional Practice

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Book SynopsisAn essential guide to the creative process for sculpting the figure. The human figure in sculpture is a powerful form, capable of great expression and depth. Sculpting the figure in any medium is a rewarding practice, but one that can lead to some challenges. Tanya Russell, founder and principal of the Art Academy in London, details the whole creative process for sculpting the figure, from the fundamental conceptual and practical considerations through to the finished and presented work. She covers essential tools and equipment, methods for building armatures, and the processes for creating not only realistic, but also abstract and expressive figures, in a variety of styles and materials. Techniques are supported by practical exercises with step-by-step instructions and images. The book is filled with the inspiring works of contemporary sculptors, all of whom are tutors, students, or alumni of the Art Academy. Modelling and Sculpting the Figure is an essential companion for beginners and established artists alike.Trade ReviewBeautifully presented in a fairly simple format with clear and simple language. There are plenty of both colour and black and white images which are quite inspirational is themselves...This book is helpful in its focus on some universal artistic principles and approaches to sculpting the human figure. -- Mary Cousins * South Wales Potters Newsletter *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: The Language of Art Chapter 2: Getting Started Chapter 3: Armatures Chapter 4: The Realistic Figure Chapter 5: The Abstracted Figure Chapter 6: The Expressive Figure Chapter 7: Finishing Suppliers Acknowledgements Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisCeramics is one of the most vibrant and engaging fields of contemporary British art. This lavishly illustrated book reviews the work of twenty-two artists and celebrates their contribution to its rich landscape. Written from a collector’s point of view, it explores what contemporary ceramic objects can mean, what emotions they evoke and how artists draw upon different facets of the art and crafts worlds in their work. A vital visual and critical resource, Contemporary British Ceramics showcases British ceramics as a compelling interdisciplinary practice, attuned to the contemporary world. Featuring more than 280 images, it encourages readers to look beneath the surface, to discover the vibrant contribution that British ceramics makes to the broad field of contemporary art.Trade Review"An essential reference tool for anyone interested in modern ceramics." * Emerging Potters magazine *This is an essential book to understand the current ideas of British ceramics. The author, Ashley Thorpe, is one of the most prestigious experts on the subject. -- Infoceramica reviewer * Infoceramica *

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Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated guide to the world of Victorian stained glass and its manufacturers and designers. Victorian stained glass – magnificent, colourful and artistic – adorns countless British churches, municipal buildings and homes. Across the decades, several artistic movements influenced these designs, from the Gothic Revival, through the Arts and Crafts Movement and into Art Nouveau as a new century dawned. Historian Trevor Yorke shows how craftsmen re-learned the lost medieval art of colouring, painting and assembling stained glass windows – but also, in this age of industry, how windows were templated and mass produced. Showcasing the exquisite glass generated by famous designers such as A.W.N. Pugin, Pre-Raphaelites William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, and by leading manufacturers such as Clayton and Bell, this beautifully illustrated book introduces the reader to many wonderful examples of Victorian stained glass and where it can be found.Trade ReviewWalk through the story of stained glass with historian Trevor Yorke in this stunning new book. * This England *An extraordinarily helpful introduction to the art and manufacture of stained glass. * The Historical Association *An enjoyable read, it also feels as though it would act as a guide – highlighting favoured designs, colours and subjects from each period – enabling you to look forward to putting your new-found knowledge into use the next time you find yourself gazing on a stained glass window. * Family Tree *Table of ContentsStained Glass Lost and Rediscovered: 1530s–1815 The Gothic Revival: 1815–1860 Victorian Stained Glass Companies: The 1860s Morris and Co, Holiday and Kempe: 1870–1900 Stained Glass for the Masses: 1860–1930 Whall, Clarke and Strachan: 1900–1930 Further Reading Places To Visit Index

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Book SynopsisFrom divine goddesses to intricate geometric patterns, this colour-by-numbers collection includes over 60 images based on beautiful stained glass designs. Stained glass by its very nature lends itself ideally to forming the basis of these beautiful colour-by-number images. Influenced by some of the greatest works of art that stretch back to Medieval times and come forward to the art nouveau and contemporary designs of the 20th and 21st centuries, these intricate illustrations are full of variety. Includes stained-glass designs from:• Canterbury Cathedral, UK• Reims Cathedral, France• Jarrow Hall, Jarrow• Erfurt Cathedral, GermanySimply match the number to the color on the flip-out colour key and bring these images to life with a kaleidoscope of colour. ABOUT THE SERIES: The bestselling Arcturus Colour by Numbers Collection features peaceful and enchanting designs from an array of artists

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Book SynopsisThe indispensable compendium of essential knowledge and troubleshooting tips for potters. Just like having an expert on call 24 hours a day – here are the answers to any ceramic questions or dilemmas you might have. Step-by-step photographs, diagrams and clear instructions will guide you through each stage of your work, or you can dip in for help with a particular problem. Discover how to improvise tools using kitchen implements, find a shortcut to rolling faultless coils, build the perfect spout and learn a foolproof method for removing a vessel from the wheel without it distorting. Every section features ‘try it’ and ‘fix it’ panels, suggesting ways of developing skills and avoiding common errors.Trade ReviewAn ideal book for someone starting out with clay, and even the most seasoned potter will find something useful. * The Kent Potters Newsletter *This book is filled with a wealth of basic technical knowledge... The book has handy timesaving tips and is presented in easy-to-follow articles. * London Potters *I know I shall dip into this handy reference frequently. * www.karenplatt.co.uk *An invaluable reference from a professional studio ceramicist, ideal for more experienced potters as well as beginners. * Craft and Design Magazine (July/August 2009) *Table of ContentsForeword About this book 1. Materials, Tools and Equipment 2. Design 3. Making Techniques Slabbing Pinching Coiling Throwing Mould Making 4. Useful Information

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Book SynopsisDan Klein and Alan J. Poole began collecting in the late 1970s and over the subsequent thirty years assembled on the most comprehensive collections of modern British and Irish glass. The book includes work by over one hundred makers at the very cutting edge of their art. This dazzling collection was gifted to National Museums Scotland in 2009.Trade Review' ... For a student this is essential reading. For a collector it's an invaluable guide and personal primer. For a maker in the UK or Ireland, it's a family album that forms an important part of the collective story of who we are and what we are a part of. It should be on all our bookshelves.' Glass Circle NewsTable of ContentsPreface/Foreword by Alan J. Poole/Introduction by Jennifer Hawkins Opie/the Collection edited by Rose Watban, National Museums of Scotland/Bibliography/Biographical Information/Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisThe essential guide to raku techniques, covering clay types, glazes, kilns, firing methods and reduction processes. Over the last thirty years interest in the raku pottery technique has grown hugely – the excitement, immediacy and unpredictability of the raku process catching and firing the imagination of professional and amateur potters alike. Despite its association with amateur pottery classes, when practised at a higher level, it is an unforgiving, demanding medium which tests pots and potters to the limit. The famous Japanese potter Hamada said that he wanted to wait until the end of his life before making raku pots as it was the most difficult and important technique to master. A growing number of potters have turned to this medium however, as a serious expression of their work, finding new (or perhaps old) and varied techniques to explore, and thriving on the opportunities provided by the raku process to transform accidents and mistakes into new techniques or innovative pieces. This new edition of Raku has new text and is beautifully illustrated in full colour throughout with an almost totally new selection of images from the work of the many highly-regarded raku potters featured. As in the previous edition, an important focus of the book is the exploration of the work, inspiration and influences of some sixty-five artists. The gallery of artists featured has been greatly updated and expanded to reflect new techniques by established raku potters and also the work of more recent converts to the medium. New entries include Toshio Ohi, Maika Korfmacher, Yasuo Terada, Marvin Sweet, John Wheeldon, Maila Klementinnen, Ashraf and Sue Hanna and Justin Novak to name but a few. This also remains a highly practical book for the practicing potter, providing a fresh and comprehensive overview of raku techniques, covering clay types, glazes, kilns, firing methods and reduction processes. It also provides recipes for clays and glazes used by the potters featured. A history of raku is also included following its inception in Japan at the end of the 16th century to its introduction to the West by Bernard Leach up until the present day. Those exciting early years are vividly brought to life with anecdotes from David Leach. Raku provides all the essential practical information you need to start raku firing. It is also a great source of inspiration for potters and of delight for those interested in contemporary ceramics.Table of ContentsForeword by David Leach Acknowledgements Preface 1. Raku – It’s Meaning and History 2. Materials and Techniques Contemporary Approaches 3. Form and Vessel 4. Glaze and Surface Treatment 5. Colour and Decoration 6. Figurative Responses to Raku 7. A Sculptural Approach A Sculptural Approach – Ceremonial Pieces 8. Clay, Smoke and Sawdust 9. Large Scale/Installation Work Conclusion Clay and Slip Recipes Raku Glaze Recipes Materials – UK/US Equivalents Temperature Conversion Bibliography Suppliers and Manufacturers Index

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Book SynopsisThis book broadens the discussion of pottery and china in the Victorian era by situating them in the national, imperial, design reform, and domestic debates between 1840 and 1890. Largely ignored in recent scholarship, Ceramics in the Victorian Era: Meanings and Metaphors in Painting and Literature argues that the signification of a pot, a jug, or a tableware pattern can be more fully discerned in written and painted representations.Across five case studies, the book explores a rhetoric and set of conventions that developed within the representation of ceramics, emerging in the late-18th century, and continuing in the Victorian period. Each case study begins with a textual passage exemplifying the outlined theme and closes with an object analysis to demonstrate how the fusing of text, image, and object are critical to attaining the period eye in order to better understand the metaphorical meanings of ceramics.Essential reading not only for ceramics scholars, but also those of mTrade ReviewFocusing on the rich meanings that ceramics accrued through their use and subsequent representation in paintings and works of literature, this book embraces a radically new approach to the study of Victorian ceramics. * Penny Sparke, Director, Modern Interiors Research Centre, Kingston University, London, UK *For anyone with an interest in the Victorian period this book is a treasure trove. Gotlieb offers a richly researched analysis of cultural messages conveyed by ceramics. The brown teapot, broken jug or willow pattern plate may be bit part players in art and literature, but they all tell powerful tales. * Moira Vincentelli, Emeritus Professor of Art History and Honorary Curator of Ceramics, Aberystwyth University, UK *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction 1. Ceramics as Agent of Design Reform and Aestheticism 2. Willow Pattern: A Mutable Agent of British Design and Art 3. Teacups Tell Such Wondrous Tales 4. British Pottery: Pride and Piety 5. A Victorian Pitcher Speaks a Thousand Words Conclusion Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis is the first book on the practical aspects of stained glass that I’ve seen in a very long time and the first to be fully illustrated in colour. To have something you can go to between lessons for extension, revision and clarification would be useful and this should fit the brief well. I’d say this is an excellent introduction and companion to work in stained glass that will be fully satisfying and not one to leave you wanting more. -- Henry, Artbookreviewer.net * Artbookreviewer.net *

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