SUBSCRIBE FOR $0.

25/WEEK

A History of Asian Ceramics,

All in One Place

Give this article Read in app

By Lisa Hammel
June 29, 1989

The New York Times Archives

See the article in its original context from

June 29, 1989, Section C, Page 1 Buy Reprints

New York Times subscribers* enjoy full access to

TimesMachine—view over 150 years of New
York Times journalism, as it originally appeared.

SUBSCRIBE

*Does not include Crossword-only or

Cooking-only subscribers.

About the Archive

This is a digitized version of an article from The
Times’s print archive, before the start of online
publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as
they originally appeared, The Times does not
alter, edit or update them.

Occasionally the digitization process introduces

transcription errors or other problems; we are
continuing to work to improve these archived
versions.

IN the pottery and porcelain of most of the

world, there are few developments that do not
have some relation to Chinese ceramics. An
exhibition that gives some sense of the
evolution and highlights of Chinese ceramics,
as well as a shorter history of Japanese
ceramics, can be seen at the Asia Society in
Manhattan through Sept. 3.

The show covers five major periods of Chinese

ceramics: the Tang dynasty (618 to 907),
notable for glazed earthenware; the Song
dynasty (960 to 1279), known for its stoneware
and the green glaze known as celadon; the
Yuan dynasty (1279 to 1368), when porcelain
began to appear; the Ming dynasty (1368 to
1644), associated with blue and white wares,
and the Qing dynasty (1644 to 1912), notable
for rich floral porcelains.

The first object the viewer sees is a striking

glazed earthenware horse about 30 inches
long. The realistically modeled cream and tan
animal is a tomb figure from the Tang dynasty,
dated around the eighth century, as is a glazed
sculpture of a court lady playing cymbals. She
was probably one figure in a funerary set that
would have constituted a whole burial
orchestra.

ADVERTISEMENT

AD THE LESTER GROUP

Compare Photos And Prices

Full Access To Homes For Sale In Brenham, Texas.

OPEN

Celadon ware from northern China in the Song

dynasty is not as familiar as the pale, rich
jadelike celadon of southern China. The olive-
hued glaze on several small northern pieces in
the show is incised with stylized leaves and
flowers.

Chinese ceramics were traded over much of

the world. A 17th-century platter showing a
gazelle in a garden belonged to Shah Jahan,
who built the Taj Mahal.

The exhibition, in which all the work is from

the Asia Society's permanent collection,
includes a number of Ming pieces in blue and
white porcelain. On many dragons cavort
among waves or clouds. The Chinese section
ends with a few examples of fruit and flower
paintings on porcelain, a technique perfected
under the Manchus in the Qing dynasty.

Thanks for reading The Times.

Subscribe to The Times

The Japanese work that makes up the rest of

the ceramics exhibition covers a shorter but
important stretch of time: the 17th and 18th
centuries. This era saw the development of
porcelain in Japan, the expansion of the
Japanese export market, the emergence of
legendary potters like Ninsei and Kakiemon
and the continued creation of pieces for the
traditional tea ceremony.

ADVERTISEMENT

Among the stoneware tea-ceremony objects

on display is a modern-looking square dish
with a broad ceramic handle used as a food
tray. There is also a tea storage jar boldly
painted with black birds on a cream glaze by
Ninsei, a mid-17th-century potter known for
his masterful painting on earthenware.

Among the porcelain pieces are several

figures. Two guardian lions, about 10 inches
high, are elaborately patterned and colored in
the style of Kakiemon. The first potter named
Kakiemon, or his son, is credited with
establishing overglaze painting on porcelain in
the last third of the 17th century.

Also on view at the Asia Society, 725 Park

Avenue (70th Street), is a continuing
exhibition of Korean porcelain of the Yi
dynasty (1392 to 1910). Since both Korean and
Chinese ceramics influenced Japanese work, it
is interesting to compare all three.

A version of this article appears in print on June 29, 1989, Section C,

Page 1 of the National edition with the headline: A History of Asian
Ceramics, All in One Place. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

Give this article Read in app

Trending ›

Texas Man Convicted of Sex Crimes Took

Deadly Drink in Court, Lawyers Say
5h ago

$5 for Spaghetti Sauce? Shoppers Are

Rushing In.
3h ago

Pain Doctor Who Sexually Assaulted

Patients Found Dead at Rikers
8h ago

These 13 Wyoming Voters Are Ready to

Decide Liz Cheney’s Fate
2h ago

What Types of Exercise Do You Need to

Reduce Dementia Risk?
Aug. 15

House Passes Sweeping Climate, Tax and

Health Care Package
Aug. 12

ADVERTISEMENT

Special offer: $2 $0.25 a week

Benefit from unlimited news and analysis.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Cancel or pause anytime.

Go to Home Page »

NEWS

OPINION

ARTS

LIVING

Thanks for reading The Times.

LISTINGS & MORE

© 2022 The New York Times Company

NYTCo Contact Us Accessibility Work with us Advertise

Add depth to the conversation.
T Brand Studio Your Ad Choices Privacy Policy Terms of Service
Special offer: $2 $0.25 a week.
Terms of Sale Site Map from
Benefit Canada
unlimited International Help
news and analysis. Subscriptions

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Cancel or pause anytime.