1. Home
2. Publications
3. Specialized books

Christie’s Pictorial History of Chinese Ceramics

Boulay, Anthony Du

Chinese ceramics are among the most popular works of art in the world.

From the discoveries in the tombs of early emperors, it is clear that pottery and porcelain have had a high value in China for several millennia. In this book, Anthony du Boulay explains the history and development of ceramics in China from the Bronze Age to the nineteenth century. The hundreds of pictures are arranged in a historical sequence, each double page covering a definite period, place and style. The illustrations are grouped into chapters, covering periods, each of which is introduced by a brief and lucid text, outlining the historical trends. This reach subject has never before been treated with such a mass of illustration, giving collectors and students alike the opportunity to refer to styles and periods, and to compare and identify. Nearly all the pieces have passed through Christie's salerooms over recent years, and represent a cross-section of Chinese ware available to the collector. The illustrations thus show objects that are on the art market rather than pieces that can only be admired from a distance in museums. The book lists the auction values reached by the pieces illustrated, together with the date of the auction. Through this book the collector will become familiar with the appearance and the history of Chinese ceramics, the range of the illustrations creates an invaluable source of reference for every dealer, collector and student. The book is not only a useful tool; however, it also displays the beauty and variety of the work of Chinese potters throughout history.

E-mail us to order