Masters: Porcelain, Major Works by Leading Ceramists

edited by Suzanne J.E. Tourtillot

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Lark Books (2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1-57990-972-8
ISBN-13: 978-1-57990-972-7
Dimensions: 9.1" x 8.0" x 0.9"
Shipping Weight: 2.3 lbs.

Porcelain—prized for its unique qualities of pristine whiteness, strength, and texture—is an unusual and notoriously difficult clay whose very definition remains subject to debate. The 40 sculptors and potters who have been chosen by Richard Burkett to appear in this curated collection expand and challenge traditional perceptions of what the medium can—and should—do. Their work represents the great diversity in practice—both technical and aesthetic—that porcelain affords the ceramists who mine its tremendous potential.

Learn about the artists' places within the context of their field in informative biographies, gain insight into their work through short commentaries written in their own words, and survey their most impressive pieces in stunning color photographs.

Examine Claire Curneen's highly emotive figurative forms that provide haunting glimpses into elements of the human condition. Sam Chung creates functional pieces that explore the architectural potential of geometric shapes and ideas of containment, while Bodil Manz's delicate cylinders are so translucent you can sometimes discern the light and shadow passing through the walls of a pot. And no survey of contemporary porcelain should be without homage to Ruth Duckworth. While she occasionally ventures into figurative works, her best is that which is pure abstraction: formal, elegant, silent.

From Ann Linnemann's "Body-Torso III" to Les Lawrence's "Galaxy-Plate," you'll find a diversity of styles and techniques exhibited in this superb volume.