The History of Ceramics

HENI Talks
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  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The History of Ceramics brings together British art historian & curator Paul Greenhalgh and U.S. maker and academic Stephanie Rozene as they reveal the most compelling stories from this often-overlooked corner of art history.  From the very first shards that shed light on early civilizations, to stories of power, political intrigue and espionage.  Famous artists, extraordinary characters, pioneers and rebels from the world of pottery, architecture and design.  Full of revelation, insight and practical expertise, The History of Ceramics offers an alternative history to our times.

Episodes

  1. Secret Formula - The Race for Porcelain - Part 2

    3 DAYS AGO

    Secret Formula - The Race for Porcelain - Part 2

    How did an alchemist discover the recipe for porcelain? And why did his discovery ultimately drive him mad? Join Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene as they pick up the story of Europe’s obsession with porcelain and the race to discover its secret formula. Stranger than fiction this is another great story in the history of ceramics. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: King Augustus II the Strong, 1670–1733 Johann Friedrich Böttger, 1682–1719 Friedrich Zorn, 1711–89 King Frederick I of Prussia, 1657–1713 Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus, 1651–1708 Plate, Circa 1730–35, Meissen Manufactory Courtesy of The Met Collection Vase with cover, 1725, Meissen Manufactory Courtesy of The Met Collection Vase, 1710 –13, Meissen Manufactory Courtesy of The Met Collection Tea caddy, 1710 –13, Meissen Manufactory To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Race for Porcelain Continues 00:02:21 Augustus the Strong: The Porcelain-Obsessed Ruler 00:06:37 Enter Johann Friedrich Böttger: The Young Alchemist 00:12:11 The Fateful Demonstration and Escape to Saxony 00:15:12 Imprisoned by Augustus: The Gold House Laboratory 00:19:13 Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus: The Scientific Mind 00:20:44 Dark Days: Failed Promises and Attempted Escape 00:28:41 The Turning Point: Discovery of Kaolin 00:31:41 The Breakthrough: Creating European Porcelain 00:41:46 Freedom and Legacy: Böttger's Final Years 00:44:51 The Ironic Twist: China's Secrets Revealed

    1hr 1min
  2. White Gold - The Race for Porcelain (Part 1)

    29 APR

    White Gold - The Race for Porcelain (Part 1)

    How did Europe become obsessed with porcelain?  And who would win the race to discover the secret formula for this “white gold?”  In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene travel from Marco Polo’s China to the courts and palaces of Europe, where this mysterious material bewitched all those that encountered it.     Artworks featured in this episode: King Louis XIV King William III & Queen Mary II A late 17th-century engraving of a porcelain room in the style popularised by Mary II Courtesy of The Met Collection Porcelain Room, Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin, Germany Marco Polo Unglazed Ewer (Earthenware) 9th–10th century Courtesy of The Met Collection Francesco de' Medici, 1541—87 Bowl with Variation of 'Baba Nakkas' Design, Circa 1500—25 Courtesy of The Met Collection Iznik Mosque Lamp (Turkey) 1585—95 Courtesy of The Cleveland Museum of Art Potpourri jar (France)Circa 1690—95 Courtesy of The Met Collection Terracotta Jug, Circa 1400–1190 BC Courtesy of The Met Collection Maiolica Plate (Italy), Circa 1500 Courtesy of The Met Collection Handled Vase (Spain), 17th Century Rouen Faience Jug (France), Circa 1720 - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Pilgrim Flask (Italy), Circa 1580, Medici Porcelain Manufactory King Augustus II the Strong, 1670–1733 To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: White Gold - The Race for Porcelain 00:01:00 Porcelain Fever: Europe's Obsession with China 00:04:12 The Magical Properties of Porcelain 00:06:20 Status Symbol of Monarchs: Porcelain Rooms and Collections 00:08:34 The Portuguese Trade Route and China's Monopoly 00:09:57 Marco Polo and the Mystery of Porcelain 00:15:02 What Porcelain Actually Is: The Science Revealed 00:19:04 Early European Attempts: Medici Porcelain and Soft Paste 00:21:36 The Failed Experiments: Grinding Shells and Burying Clay 00:25:58 Tin Glaze Traditions: Maiolica, Faience, and Delftware 00:30:02 The Race Intensifies: Setting Up for Discovery

    41 min
  3. The Ceramic Wars

    22 APR

    The Ceramic Wars

    Why were Korean potters kidnapped and held hostage by Japanese invaders?  And how did they transform the history of Japanese ceramics?  In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene explore the complicated relations between Korea and Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries, and show how ceramics became a major factor in the bitter conflict between the two of them during what has become known as the Ceramic Wars. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Maebyeong Vase, Late 13th Century Stoneware carving and filling with white and black slip. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Cropped) - Wikimedia Commons Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Kodai Temple - Wikimedia Commons Toyotomi Hideyoshi on his horse - Wikimedia Commons Wine Ewer, First half of the 13th Century Shigaraki climbing kiln - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Water Jar, 17th Century Noborigama, Tokoname - Wikimedia Commons Raku Tea Bowl, Circa 1600 Ko Tamba Ware Water Jar, Mid 1500’s Shigaraki Ware Vessel, 15th Century Arita Ware Hexagonal Jars, Late 17th Century Shigaraki Ware Vessel, 15th Century Dish Depicting Lady with a Parasol, 1734—1737 Hagi Ware Tea Bowl, 19th Century - Freer Gallery of Art, Wikimedia Commons Hagi Ware Tea Bowl, 20th Century - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) "To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the HENI Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks" Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Ceramic Wars 00:01:05 East Asia in the 16th Century: Three Powers 00:03:55 Korean Ceramics: The Beauty of Seladon 00:09:33 Japanese Ceramics Before the Wars 00:09:54 Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Unification of Japan 00:15:10 The Japanese Invasions of Korea Begin 00:18:31 The Enslavement of Korean Potters 00:20:02 Korean Potters Transform Japanese Ceramics 00:23:08 Arita: The Birth of Japanese Porcelain 00:26:59 Satsuma Ware and Korean Innovation 00:30:54 Hagi Ware and the Tea Ceremony 00:37:15 Legacy and Lasting Tensions

    52 min
  4. Picasso The Potter

    15 APR

    Picasso The Potter

    How did Picasso discover pottery? And how did he transform the fortunes of an ancient town in the process?  Join Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene to discuss Picasso’s life in the South of France just after the Second World War where he found a new and exciting creative outlet bringing together painting and sculpture and in doing so transformed the history of art. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Guernica, 1937 by Pablo Picasso Head Plate, 1957 by Pablo Picasso "Tete au Masque" Plate, 1956 by Pablo Picasso Owl Pitcher, 1957 by Pablo Picasso Three Sardines, 1947 by Pablo Picasso Bull In The Arena, 1948 by Pablo Picasso Vase with Two High Handles, The Queen, 1953 by Pablo Picasso To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the HENI Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Picasso the Potter 00:00:53 The Dark Years: Picasso During World War II 00:05:27 Discovering Vallauris: A Holiday That Changed Everything 00:07:41 The Madoura Pottery and First Experiments 00:11:23 Working with Clay: Technique and Collaboration 00:14:04 Picasso's Ceramic Vocabulary 00:22:11 Domestic Life and the South of France 00:28:10 Jacqueline Roque and New Beginnings 00:31:42 Revitalizing Vallauris: Community and Legacy 00:34:29 What Picasso Did for Ceramics

    36 min
  5. Adelaide Alsop Robineau - A Pioneering Potter

    8 APR

    Adelaide Alsop Robineau - A Pioneering Potter

    Who created the Mona Lisa of American Ceramics? And how was it stolen from under the noses of museum guards? In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene travel to the American Gilded Age at the end of the 19th C to discuss the life and work of Adelaide Alsop Robineau, the pioneering potter who fought to make her own work her own way, and went on to win the top prize at the prestigious World’s Fair, putting American ceramics on the map. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Cup with beetles, 1901 by Adelaide Alsop Robineau Courtesy of The Met Collection Vase (Crystalline)1910 by Adelaide Alsop Robineau Courtesy of the Everson Museum of Art Staff of the University City Pottery and Art Institute, 1910 Courtesy of the Everson Museum of Art Archives Scarab Vase, 1910 by Adelaide Alsop Robineau Courtesy of the Everson Museum of Art Cinerary Urn, Circa 1929 by Adelaide Alsop Robineau Courtesy of the Everson Museum of Art Stolen Art Alert Poster International Foundation for Art Research Courtesy of the Everson Museum of Art Archives To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the HENITalks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Adelaide Alsop Robineau and the Scarab Vase 00:01:37 America's Gilded Age and the Rise of Art Pottery 00:03:10 Adelaide's Early Life 00:04:56 China Painting: A Technical Note 00:07:20 Meeting Samuel Robineau and Starting Keramic Studio Magazine 00:09:25 Syracuse: A Hub of the Arts and Crafts Movement 00:11:37 The Magazine Empire and Teaching Women 00:16:47 The Radical Switch from China Painting to Porcelain 00:21:50 Learning from Taxile Doat: Porcelain Secrets Revealed 00:25:10 Mastering Crystalline Glazes 00:29:30 The First Female Studio Potter Working in Porcelain 00:30:19 University City and the Dream Team of Potters 00:32:58 Creating the Scarab Vase: 1000 Hours of Carving 00:38:38 Catastrophic Cracks and Miraculous Repair 00:41:35 The Grand Prix at Turin 1911 00:43:30 Return to Syracuse and Teaching Legacy 00:45:02 Final Years and the Funerary Urn 00:49:08 The Great Scarab Vase Heist of 1989 00:52:27 Recovery: David Rago and the Polaroid Evidence 00:56:15 Adelaide's Legacy: Never Lacking in Self-Confidence

    58 min
  6. The First Pot

    1 APR

    The First Pot

    What was the first piece of pottery that humans ever made?  What does it reveal about our earliest ancestors?  In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene travel back to the earliest civilisations to find out how they created the very first ceramic objects and what that meant to the story of mankind. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Venus of Dolní Věstonice, 29,000—25,000 BC Vestonicka venuse edit by Petr Novák, Wikipedia Source - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vestonicka_venuse_edit.jpg For the full legal code, see the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/legalcode.en Vestonicka venuse back by Petr Novák, Wikipedia Source - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vestonicka_venuse_back.jpg For the full legal code, see the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/legalcode.en Fire-Flame Cooking Vessel, 2750—2500 BC Deep Vessel with Decorative Handles, 3500—2500 BC Met Museum Bell Beaker, 2475–1800 BC Bell Beaker Rijksmuseum of Oudheden by Gary Todd Source - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bell_Beaker_Rijksmuseum_of_Oudheden.jpg For the full legal code, see the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the HENI Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: How Ceramics Changed History 00:02:13 Clay vs Ceramic 00:04:50 The Oldest Writing About Potters 00:06:58 The Venus of Dolni Vestonice: The First Ceramic Object 00:12:41 How Early Societies Discovered Ceramic Technology 00:15:32 The First Pots: From China to Japan 00:17:58 The Jomon People 00:19:24 Jomon Pots: Decoration, Function, and Meaning 00:25:01 Fire, Food, and Transformation 00:25:57 Nomadic Potters 00:32:00 Pottery as Archaeological Evidence 00:33:12 The Bell Beaker People of Britain 00:35:25 Ceramics as a Mark of Civilization 00:37:21 An Ancient Technology Still in Use Today

    40 min
  7. Introducing The History of Ceramics

    TRAILER

    Introducing The History of Ceramics

    The History of Ceramics brings together British art historian & curator Paul Greenhalgh and U.S. maker and academic Stephanie Rozene as they reveal the most compelling and often surprising stories from this often-overlooked corner of art history.  Travelling around the world and through time, from the very first shards that shed light on early civilizations, to stories of power, political intrigue and espionage.  Famous artists, extraordinary characters, pioneers and rebels from the world of pottery, architecture and design who have all played a role in elevating ceramics to the heart of the art world but also into the homes and lives enthusiasts right around the globe.  Full of revelation, insight and practical expertise, The History of Ceramics offers an alternative history to our times.

    2 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The History of Ceramics brings together British art historian & curator Paul Greenhalgh and U.S. maker and academic Stephanie Rozene as they reveal the most compelling stories from this often-overlooked corner of art history.  From the very first shards that shed light on early civilizations, to stories of power, political intrigue and espionage.  Famous artists, extraordinary characters, pioneers and rebels from the world of pottery, architecture and design.  Full of revelation, insight and practical expertise, The History of Ceramics offers an alternative history to our times.

Information

  • Creator
    HENI Talks
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © HENI 2026

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