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Porcelain People: Figures from the Qing Dynasty

Jorge Welsh (ed.)

This year we celebrate our 35^th anniversary with the catalogue, Porcelain People: Figures from the Qing Dynasty, which explores the range and virtuosity of the representation of the human figure in Chinese porcelain.

Showcasing objects made in the three successive reigns of Kangxi (1662–1722), Yongzheng (1723–1735) and Qianlong (1736–1795), the catalogue highlights the extraordinary ability of the Chinese potter to transform clay into intricate figures, bestowing on them the strong expressive characteristics and symbolic powers that have long been a tradition in Chinese ceramics.

Included are figures representing both Asian and Western people, which helped set the stage for a growing fashion in Europe throughout the 18^th century for decorative porcelain figurines made in China.

Some of the 53 individual figures discussed and illustrated in the 35 catalogue entries are purely Chinese in subject matter, while others are copied from European models; some were created as religious icons for private use, and others fed the European appetite for ‘chinoiserie’ displays. Moulded in Dehua and Jingdezhen, all of these figures helped facilitate an understanding and awareness among Chinese and Europeans of their respective cultures, while also inspiring some compelling interpretations, and encouraged European artisans, such as those working at Meissen, to produce sculptural objects synonymous with rococo art.

The catalogue includes an article by Rose Kerr on the history and evolution of the representation of the human form in Chinese ceramic art.

Limited Edition of 400 copies.

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