Author Description

"Famous worldwide, porcelain has long remained the exclusive preserve of China, with Europe only unlocking its secrets in the 18th century. Monochrome porcelain--that is, coated in a single colour--representsthe pinnacle of technical perfection in this art, requiring great purity of materials and absolute control over the firing process. Pigments capable of withstanding very high firing temperatures are few, and Chinese potters, thanks to their know-how, have continuously developed new shades to satisfy emperors and literati. The long history of the mastering colours is traced here through a selection of 250 absolute masterpieces from the Zhuyuetang and Guimet Museum collections"--