【BOOK INTRODUCTION】
The history of ceramics is nearly as ancient as the development of human civilization itself. From the earliest pottery produced during the late Paleolithic period to contemporary works that combine function, design, and artistic value, ceramics have served not only as objects of everyday use but also as vessels for the technologies, beliefs, aesthetics, and cultural memories of different eras. Curated by renowned artist and writer Edmund de Waal, The Pot Book presents more than 300 ceramic objects spanning over thirty thousand years and originating from cultures around the world, revealing the extraordinary richness and diversity of this ancient medium.
The book encompasses a wide range of objects, including jugs, vases, plates, beakers, amphorae, and other ceramic forms. Its selection extends across ancient civilizations, traditional craftsmanship, modern design, and contemporary art. From a hand-painted jug made by an unnamed Chinese artisan in the third millennium BC and a delicate porcelain plate produced in eighteenth-century Copenhagen to a playful vase by influential Italian designer Ettore Sottsass, each object demonstrates how ceramics have continuously evolved in response to geography, function, and historical context.
Alongside historical masterpieces, the book also features works by contemporary artists such as Phoebe Collings-James, Theaster Gates, Simone Leigh, and Grayson Perry. These works illustrate how ceramics continue to serve as a medium for social, cultural, and personal expression. Some are simple and restrained, while others are ornate and elaborate; still others move beyond the conventional form of the vessel to reconsider the relationships between clay, the body, identity, and materiality.
Each object is presented on its own dedicated page, accompanied by a large-scale colour image, essential information, and accessible yet insightful commentary. This format allows readers to closely examine each work’s form, glaze, texture, and details. Entries are arranged alphabetically according to the name of the artist, potter, school, or style, rather than being restricted by chronology or geography, creating a journey that moves freely across cultures and historical periods.
The Pot Book is both an encyclopedic survey of ceramic art and a visual history of how humankind has used clay, fire, and the human hand to shape everyday life. Whether for readers interested in ceramics, craft, design, and art, or for anyone drawn to objects and the aesthetics of daily living, the book reveals the enduring appeal of a medium that has remained essential for more than thirty thousand years.
【DETAILS】
Author: Edmund de Waal (Editor), Claudia Clare (Contributor), Sam McGuire (Contributor)
Publisher: Phaidon Press
Publication Year: 2026
Dimensions: 28 × 21 cm
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 320
